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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.