HELICOPTER SUPPORT

Hornchurch and Rainham MP James Brokenshire has raised concerns with the Government about whether British soldiers fighting in Afghanistan have got the necessary helicopter back-up.  Earlier this week the MP pressed the Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth during a Parliamentary question and answer session on the adequacy of helicopter support and the ability to transport supplies by air rather than by land convoy to reduce the risk to troops.

Paying tribute to British service personnel who had lost their lives in Afghanistan, James Brokenshire told the House of Commons that: "They died serving their country and, to use those immortal words, for our tomorrows they gave their today."  He then questioned the Defence Secretary on why the Government felt that the current provision of helicopters was sufficient.  In response Mr Ainsworth said that additional helicopters were expected to be sent to Afghanistan later this year with more to follow in 2010.

Commenting, James said:

“The Defence Secretary's answers weren't satisfactory.  The number of British troops in Helmand has doubled since 2006, yet we've got the same number of helicopters.  The inevitable consequence of this is that more journeys have to be made by road with all of the risks that this entails.  If our forces on the ground are saying that more helicopters are needed, the Government needs to offer some very clearly and overriding reasons why these requests should not be met."

Back to all posts