Fox demands clarification on British mission in Afghanistan

Liam Fox has written to Bob Ainsworth, Labour’s Defence Secretary, to ask for clarification on the mission of British troops in Helmand.

In the letter, Liam, the Shadow Defence Secretary, asks Mr. Ainsworth when the British mission in Afghanistan will shift away from frontline combat.

He wrote, “In light of what you said yesterday on the Andrew Marr show, that British troops will eventually begin undertaking a training and mentoring role to the Afghan National Army, and on top of the several enquires made by my team and me regarding the future role of British forces as mentioned in the Prime Minister's statement on 29 April, could you now use this opportunity to expand on your comments and those of the Prime Minster.”

Liam also asked Mr. Ainsworth:

• How many members of the Armed Forces are trained to drive Mastiff and Ridgback vehicles as of 17 August 2009?
• How long does it take to train a driver for each?
• Is the training for Ridgback shorter for those who have already been qualified to drive Mastiffs?

SUPPRESSED DEFENCE REPORT REIGNITES TRIDENT DEBATE

PM FACES MORE QUESTIONS ABOUT EQUIPMENT AND SPIN

Reports that Downing Street has suppressed a report revealing the MoD is wasting billions of pounds every year as a result of ordering projects it cannot afford has sparked renewed calls for the prime minister to rule-out looming commitments on the renewal of the Trident nuclear weapons system.

Gordon Brown is set to sign-off £2bn in design work for the weapons system in September – just as pressure is piling on the prime minister to answer questions about how his government is dealing with the campaign in Afghanistan after a series of media reports highlighted serious concerns about equipment.

The SNP have argued that Trident renewal must not be excluded from the Strategic Defence Review and further spending on the project should be ruled out pending the planned assessment of defence needs and the 30-nation nuclear non-proliferation summit scheduled in Washington next March.

SNP Westminster leader and Defence spokesperson Angus Robertson MP said:

“For Downing Street to suppress a report on defence spending at a time when the government faces fundamental questions about whether our forces in Afghanistan are getting the equipment they need is absolutely unacceptable.

“Gordon Brown cannot dodge the serious questions that are mounting about equipment in Afghanistan . He is already exposed for saying there were enough helicopters only to have Bob Ainsworth contradict that claim by saying he was 'busting a gut' to get more helicopters into theatre.

“Speculation that the UK government is wasting billions of pounds on projects it cannot afford totally reignites the debate on Trident renewal. In just a few weeks Gordon Brown is set to sign-off £2bn worth of design work on these weapons of mass destruction.

“People struggle to understand, at a time when budgets are tight across the armed forces and Scotland faces a £500 million budget cut from London , why the UK Government is ploughing billions of pounds into a new generation of unwanted and unnecessary nuclear weapons.

“Any way you look at it - on moral, economic or political grounds - renewal of this nuclear system is untenable.”

CLARIFICATION CALLS ON SOLDIERS’ COMPENSATION

PPS SHOULD RESIGN ON PRINCIPLE IF CASE CONTINUES

The SNP have called on the Defence Secretary to clarify whether the Ministry of Defence is set to drop its legal bid to cut the compensation paid to wounded soldiers’ after his Ministerial aide kept his job after branding the action ‘bonkers’ and said it should be abandoned – raising the prospect of a climbdown.

SNP Westminster leader and Defence spokesperson Angus Robertson MP also called on Eric Joyce, the Defence Secretary’s PPS, to resign on principle if the action was not dropped.

Mr Robertson said:

“The Ministry of Defence are in a state of utter chaos and confusion, and Bob Ainsworth must clarify whether the government is going to drop its legal bid to cut soldiers’ compensation, or continue through the courts.

“Bob Ainsworth has been left looking a complete fool by his own aide, and yet Eric Joyce is still in his job – despite the fact that neither man seems to have any confidence in the other.

“The Defence Secretary has been branded ‘bonkers’, but Eric Joyce does not come out of this with much credibility either. He does not approve of his government’s policy but is so caught up with the trappings of power that he is clinging to his job at all costs. Eric Joyce should have the courage of his convictions and resign on principle.

“The MoD are behaving shamefully in attempting to cut these compensation payments. These two soldiers were wounded while serving their country, and now the UK Government is fighting them in court – it is an outrageous and crass way to treat these men.

“The MoD should think again about how their action will be viewed by the service community in the present circumstances and drop this ridiculous challenge.”