Head of RAF calls for more staff

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The head of the RAF has called for more personnel, warning that staff cuts have gone as far as they can.

The Chief of the Air Staff, Sir Glenn Torpy, told the BBC the RAF was as lean as it "can possibly be" and needed more staff to meet new commitments.

He added that while he could "always spend more money", it was up to the government and the public to decide how much was spent on defence.

Defence chiefs said staffing was looked at whenever such demands were raised.

Sir Glenn told BBC Radio 4's The World Tonight programme that the RAF had reduced in size from 48,000 to 41,000 staff.

"I believe the air force is now as lean as it can possibly be and, with the addition of new capabilities such as some new helicopters, two extra C-17s [military cargo aircraft], the Reaper unmanned air vehicle, then I believe we need some more manpower."

An MoD spokeswoman said that when the RAF faced "additional capabilities", manpower issues would be dealt with.

She added that the MoD recognised that "restructuring programmes in place" meant "manning challenges", which were being looked at.

'Bigger commitments'

Sir Glenn was speaking after ministers ordered a safety review of the RAF's Nimrod fleet following an inquiry into a September 2006 crash in Afghanistan in which 14 people died.

The accident, blamed on a fuel leak, saw the biggest loss of life among British forces in a single incident since the Falklands War, and was only the fourth Nimrod crash in 36 years of operations.

HOW THE NIMROD CRASHED 1. Nimrod refuels in mid-air.2. Possible fuel over-flow from number one tank. 3. Second possible source of leak is pipe couplings behind number seven tank.4. Leaked fuel contacts hot pipe and ignites.5. Fire and smoke alarms triggered in bomb bay and underfloor by sensitive wiring.

The MoD has defended the fleet's safety record and refuted accusations of cost cutting.

Sir Glenn also denied RAF crews were using inadequate equipment, saying it "delivers the operational capability that we need".

But the Conservatives suggested troops were "operating at a tempo well in excess of that for which they are resourced".

Responding to Sir Glenn's comments, shadow defence minister Gerald Howarth said the government had "cut too far".

"The accumulative effect on families as well as on the equipment and the ability to train has meant that the RAF has taken risks," he said.

"We have been saying that the cuts to the service are seriously eroding the RAF's ability to deliver."