UK & World News
The latest UK & World news stories from the Press Association.
Army 'ill-equipped for new tasks'
02:05, Feb 10 2010
Seven years of fighting on two fronts in Iraq and Afghanistan have left the armed forces ill-prepared to take on any new tasks, MPs warned.
The Commons Defence Committee said that the forces need a period of "effective recuperation" after an extended period operating above normal planning assumptions.
Outlining the toll taken over the past years, it described how RAF pilots were unable to train because aircraft were tied up on operations, the Navy had too many commitments, while senior generals believed the Army needed another 10,000 troops.
The committee fired a warning shot across the bows of a possible incoming Tory government, cautioning against cuts in an emergency "stringency budget" which could leave it unable to carry through the strategic defence review (SDR) promised by all the main parties.
In its report, the committee said it is "unsatisfactory" that the readiness of the forces to carry out contingent tasks not connected with current operations overseas have fallen to such an extent.
The MPs said that the current defence planning assumptions - that the forces are supposed to be resourced to maintain one enduring medium-scale operation and one small-scale operation - are "out of step with what is happening in reality".
The Army in particular had suffered, the committee said, with training exercises cancelled and the time between tours of duty cut.
It quoted Lieutenant General Sir Graeme Lamb, Commander of the Field Army, who said that his fellow senior officers believe that the Army needs to be expanded from around 102,000 troops to 112,000 to meet the demands placed on it.
"The Army has been working at full stretch," it said. "Given the high tempo of operations over the last eight years, it is not surprising that some senior Army officers think that there needs to be a bigger Army."
Romney returns to winning ways 00:05, Feb 12 2012
Mitt Romney has won the Maine caucuses by a slim margin, giving him a much needed boost following losses in three other contests in the past week, Maine Republican Party chairman Charlie Webster said. more
Salmond insists on no-strings poll 00:05, Feb 12 2012
Alex Salmond has again insisted that plans for an independence referendum must have "no strings attached" from Westminster. more
Call to embrace community energy 00:05, Feb 12 2012
The Government must overhaul the "closed shop" energy market by embracing community schemes, according to a new report. more
PM quashes Lansley speculation 00:05, Feb 12 2012
David Cameron has sought to quash speculation over the survival of health secretary Andrew Lansley and his controversial NHS shake-up. more
PM 'plans football racism summit' 00:05, Feb 12 2012
David Cameron is expected to step into the row over racism in football by staging a Downing Street summit on the issue. more
Anger over marriage tax breaks 00:05, Feb 12 2012
George Osborne has infuriated Tory MPs by reportedly ruling out tax breaks for married couples in the Budget. more
Murdoch expected in wake of arrests 22:05, Feb 11 2012
Rupert Murdoch is expected to fly to London next week after reassuring staff he would not sell The Sun in the wake of a second wave of arrests at the newspaper. more
Man charged with stabbing murder 21:05, Feb 11 2012
A man has been charged with murder after another man was stabbed to death on, police said. more
Protesters show Syria solidarity 19:05, Feb 11 2012
Hundreds of demonstrators have gathered in London in a show of solidarity with protesters across the Middle East and North Africa. more
Six bailed in corruption probe 19:05, Feb 11 2012
Six people arrested as part of an investigation into allegations of corruption have been released on bail, Scotland Yard said. more
The latest UK & World news stories from the Press Association.
