MOD responds to the House
of Common's defence committee (HCDC) report on UK
operations in Afghanistan
MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
News Release (169/2007) issued by The Government News Network on 18
July 2007
Defence Secretary
Des Browne responded, today, to the House of Common's Defence
Committee report on UK Operations in Afghanistan.
Mr Browne said:
"I welcome the publication of the HCDC report into UK
operations in Afghanistan. The report is balanced and recognises
that we are performing well against a challenging background and I
join the Committee in paying tribute to the outstanding work done
by service and civilian personnel in theatre. I also particularly
welcome their recognition of the lengths that UK forces go to in
order to minimise civilian casualties. I concur with their
assessment that much needed reconstruction in Helmand is underway
but that there is more to do.
"I agree with the Committee's assessment that NATO
nations should do more to meet the shortfalls in requirements. The
UK continues to lobby other nations to provide more in terms of
military and non-military resources.
"I acknowledge that our helicopters fleet is working hard
and we keep the situation under review. We have already increased
helicopter flying hours in theatre and are deploying additional
support, in the form of Sea Kings, in the autumn. In the medium
term, we are increasing the number of helicopters available
including new Merlins and the conversion of existing Chinooks."
-ENDS-
Notes to editors
1. The Ministry of Defence will consider the Defence Committees
report in detail and will make a formal response in due course.
2. The ISAF mission in Afghanistan currently consists of
approximately 36,000 troops of which around 7,100 are UK forces.
3. In February this year, MoD announced that it would be
deploying additional Harriers and Sea Kings to Afghanistan. In
March this year, the MoD also agreed to buy new Merlin
helicopters, which will be available within a year, and to convert
existing Chinook Mark 3 helicopters currently estimated to be
available to operations in two years. The complete package will
cost around £230 million.