This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/7704276.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Minister 'horrified' by SAS claim Minister 'horrified' by SAS claim
(about 2 hours later)
The government has said it is "horrified" by accusations that it has been cavalier with soldiers' lives by not giving them proper equipment. A minister has said he is "horrified" by accusations the government has been "cavalier" with soldiers' lives by not giving them proper equipment.
It follows the resignation of an SAS officer over what he is said to have described as "chronic underinvestment". An SAS commander in Afghanistan resigned over what he is said to have called "chronic underinvestment".
The Daily Telegraph says Major Sebastian Morley accused ministers of ignoring his warnings about the safety of the Army's Snatch Land Rovers. The Daily Telegraph said Major Sebastian Morley accused ministers of ignoring his warnings about the safety of the Army's Snatch Land Rovers.
But defence minister Quentin Davies said safer vehicles were now available.But defence minister Quentin Davies said safer vehicles were now available.
Maj Morley, an SAS reservist commander in Afghanistan, is reported to have blamed a lack of adequate resources for the deaths of four service personnel.Maj Morley, an SAS reservist commander in Afghanistan, is reported to have blamed a lack of adequate resources for the deaths of four service personnel.
I recently visited Afghanistan, and 100 per cent of those I asked said they were now satisfied with their equipment Defence minister Quentin Davies Q&A: Snatch Land RoversI recently visited Afghanistan, and 100 per cent of those I asked said they were now satisfied with their equipment Defence minister Quentin Davies Q&A: Snatch Land Rovers
They include Corporal Sarah Bryant, the first British female soldier to die in Afghanistan.They include Corporal Sarah Bryant, the first British female soldier to die in Afghanistan.
The troops were killed on 17 June when their Snatch Land Rover struck a roadside bomb in Helmand Province earlier this year.The troops were killed on 17 June when their Snatch Land Rover struck a roadside bomb in Helmand Province earlier this year.
In his resignation letter Maj Morley is said to have accused ministers of "gross negligence" in allowing soldiers to go into battle without adequate resources.In his resignation letter Maj Morley is said to have accused ministers of "gross negligence" in allowing soldiers to go into battle without adequate resources.
The lack of equipment, he is reported to have said, was: "Cavalier at best. Criminal at worst".The lack of equipment, he is reported to have said, was: "Cavalier at best. Criminal at worst".
The Snatch Land Rover has come under particular criticism in Afghanistan, where soldiers are said to describe them as "mobile coffins". But Mr Davies, defence and equipment minister, told the BBC he found these accusations "surprising and very sad".
They are unpopular because their thin armour is designed to withstand small arms fire, but not the roadside bombs and larger mines favoured by insurgents. "The idea that we have been cavalier with soldiers' lives is horrific".
'Serious shortcomings' Mr Davies said, while three or four years ago there may have been "serious shortcomings", soldiers now had access to better equipment.
Mr Davies, who is defence and equipment minister, told the BBC he found Maj Morley's accusations "surprising and very sad." The government had recently announced the purchase of 700 new armoured vehicles and commanders already had access to a wide range of vehicles.
He said: "The idea that we have been cavalier with soldiers' life is horrific.
Mr Davies said that, while three or four years ago there may have been what he described as "serious shortcomings", soldiers now had access to better equipment.
In addition, he said the government had recently announced the purchase of 700 new armoured vehicles.
He said : "There is already a very wide range of vehicles available to commanders."
"I recently visited Afghanistan, and 100 per cent of those I asked said they were now satisfied with their equipment.""I recently visited Afghanistan, and 100 per cent of those I asked said they were now satisfied with their equipment."
Travesty of reality
He said, given the nature of war, "there may be occasions when in retrospect a commander chose the wrong piece of equipment, the wrong vehicle, for the particular threat that the patrol or whatever it was encountered and we had some casualties as a result".
However he said the idea the Ministry of Defence was "indifferent" to the need to get the right kit into theatre was a "travesty of reality that it is actually quite difficult to take this at first face value".
The Snatch Land Rovers are unpopular because their thin armour is designed to withstand small arms fire, but not roadside bombs and larger mines favoured by insurgents.
Mr Davies defended the decision of the MoD to keep Snatch Land Rovers in service because, he said, it was important commanders in the field were able to chose the most appropriate vehicle for different situations.Mr Davies defended the decision of the MoD to keep Snatch Land Rovers in service because, he said, it was important commanders in the field were able to chose the most appropriate vehicle for different situations.
"The Snatch Land Rover can offer speed, flexibility and access in places other vehicles cannot reach," he said."The Snatch Land Rover can offer speed, flexibility and access in places other vehicles cannot reach," he said.
'Better protection''Better protection'
But some relatives of soldiers who died in Snatch Land Rovers have repeated calls to have them withdrawn altogether.But some relatives of soldiers who died in Snatch Land Rovers have repeated calls to have them withdrawn altogether.
Rose Gentle, whose son Gordon was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2004 said: "The Government have been talking about replacing Snatch Land Rovers but they need to put their money where their mouth is now.Rose Gentle, whose son Gordon was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2004 said: "The Government have been talking about replacing Snatch Land Rovers but they need to put their money where their mouth is now.
"I have been asking for this for four years. It is too late for Gordon and the others who have died but there are a lot of boys out there still who deserve better protection.""I have been asking for this for four years. It is too late for Gordon and the others who have died but there are a lot of boys out there still who deserve better protection."
Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said British troops were suffering over what he called Gordon Brown's "lack of commitment" to the war in Afghanistan.Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said British troops were suffering over what he called Gordon Brown's "lack of commitment" to the war in Afghanistan.
Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Nick Harvey said the £700m investment in new armoured vehicles had come "tragically late".Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Nick Harvey said the £700m investment in new armoured vehicles had come "tragically late".
"Many voices have been warning about the inadequacy of our vehicles in Afghanistan," he said. "The government should have acted very much sooner.""Many voices have been warning about the inadequacy of our vehicles in Afghanistan," he said. "The government should have acted very much sooner."
Are you in the armed forces? What is your experience with equipment and vehicles?Are you in the armed forces? What is your experience with equipment and vehicles?
Send your comments using the post form below, or text 61124.Send your comments using the post form below, or text 61124.
In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below.
Name
 Name