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/6263654.stm
The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Call over armed forces shortages | Call over armed forces shortages |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| There are not enough servicemen and women to meet the demands placed on the UK armed forces by the situations in Afghanistan and Iraq, MPs have said. | There are not enough servicemen and women to meet the demands placed on the UK armed forces by the situations in Afghanistan and Iraq, MPs have said. |
| The Commons public accounts committee said the overall shortfall in personnel stood at 5,850, or 3.2%, of full strength in April. | The Commons public accounts committee said the overall shortfall in personnel stood at 5,850, or 3.2%, of full strength in April. |
| Numbers leaving early reached a 10-year peak in some areas, the report said. | Numbers leaving early reached a 10-year peak in some areas, the report said. |
| The committee called on the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to develop a long-term strategy to deal with the problem. | The committee called on the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to develop a long-term strategy to deal with the problem. |
| The MoD has been relying for too long on the goodwill and courageous spirit of our servicemen and women to compensate for the increasing shortages of personnel in all three services Edward LeighPublic accounts committee class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6688&edition=1">Your views: Recruitment 'crisis' | |
| The report concluded that shortages were particularly bad in specialist areas including vehicle mechanics and nurses. | The report concluded that shortages were particularly bad in specialist areas including vehicle mechanics and nurses. |
| Chairman Edward Leigh said downsizing and overstretch were affecting the ability of the MoD to "retain and provide a satisfactory life for armed forces personnel". | Chairman Edward Leigh said downsizing and overstretch were affecting the ability of the MoD to "retain and provide a satisfactory life for armed forces personnel". |
| "The MoD has been relying for too long on the goodwill and courageous spirit of our servicemen and women to compensate for the increasing shortages of personnel in all three services," he said. | "The MoD has been relying for too long on the goodwill and courageous spirit of our servicemen and women to compensate for the increasing shortages of personnel in all three services," he said. |
| "The staffing situation has reached the point where there are simply not enough service people to meet levels of military activity planned some years ago - let alone the heightened demands now being placed on them by commitments such as the Iraq and Afghanistan operations." | "The staffing situation has reached the point where there are simply not enough service people to meet levels of military activity planned some years ago - let alone the heightened demands now being placed on them by commitments such as the Iraq and Afghanistan operations." |
| Tax-free allowance | Tax-free allowance |
| For the past two years, the numbers leaving early had risen, the report said. | For the past two years, the numbers leaving early had risen, the report said. |
| Heavy workloads, frequent overseas deployments and impact on family life were key reasons for this. | Heavy workloads, frequent overseas deployments and impact on family life were key reasons for this. |
| The MoD must think hard when it makes cuts in recruitment about the consequences for manning levels some years along the line Edward LeighPublic accounts committee | The MoD must think hard when it makes cuts in recruitment about the consequences for manning levels some years along the line Edward LeighPublic accounts committee |
| These figures had reached a 10-year peak for members of the RAF of all ranks and Army officers, it said. | These figures had reached a 10-year peak for members of the RAF of all ranks and Army officers, it said. |
| The MPs said that cuts in recruitment in the 1990s had also impacted on current staffing levels. | The MPs said that cuts in recruitment in the 1990s had also impacted on current staffing levels. |
| "The MoD must think hard when it makes cuts in recruitment about the consequences for manning levels some years along the line," Mr Leigh added. | "The MoD must think hard when it makes cuts in recruitment about the consequences for manning levels some years along the line," Mr Leigh added. |
| "The consequences to manning levels are almost impossible to rectify speedily and any measures taken seem to cost more than was saved by the original cuts." | "The consequences to manning levels are almost impossible to rectify speedily and any measures taken seem to cost more than was saved by the original cuts." |
| The committee welcomed last year's tax-free allowance of £2,240 for those serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and Bosnia, | The committee welcomed last year's tax-free allowance of £2,240 for those serving in Iraq, Afghanistan and Bosnia, |
| It also backed the offer of pay rises to encourage the retention of specialist staff. | It also backed the offer of pay rises to encourage the retention of specialist staff. |
| But it said further measures - including longer notice of deployments - were needed to tackle the problem. | But it said further measures - including longer notice of deployments - were needed to tackle the problem. |