MP calls for action on troops’ lost leave

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In July 2009, the MoD confirmed that
48 per cent of all RAF flights from
Afghanistan to the UK faced delays of
over one hour, with 23 per cent of
flights delayed for over three hours

Commenting on the publication of the Commons public accounts committee’s report on the Ministry of Defence’s support for high-intensity operations, South Norfolk MP Richard Bacon, a member of the committee, said:

“In 2008-09 almost half of all flights out of Afghanistan were delayed.

“The government says it is trying to minimise delays to the airbridge and, of course, everyone understands that flying in and out of a hot, dusty war zone is a fraught business, but our troops deserve better than this.

“At present, the clock starts ticking for armed forces’ leave the moment they are due to embark from the war zone. This is quite unfair to armed forces personnel, who see little enough of their families as it is without the precious time they are given being eroded because the MoD can’t get them home on time. Leave should begin for our troops when they arrive in the UK rather than starting when they are still in the war zone.

“The MoD says it is looking at other options to compensate soldiers who lose out on precious Rest and Recuperation (R&R), such as extending their time on leave after their tour is complete. By then, however, the heavy tempo of operations may have already taken its toll, especially if troops’ mid-tour R&R leave had previously been disrupted by delays and missed connections. Simply telling exhausted troops ‘we’ll make it up to you later’ is not good enough.”

Mr Bacon was speaking as the Commons public accounts committee published its report on the Ministry of Defence’s support for high-intensity operations. In answer to a Parliamentary Question in July 2009, the MoD confirmed that 48 per cent of all RAF flights from Afghanistan to the UK faced delays of over one hour, with 23 per cent of flights delayed for over three hours. In a memorandum to the committee, the MoD stated that it was looking at the alternative option of extending post operational tour leave by way of compensation for those who lose out on Rest and Recuperation as a result of travel delays.

13 October 2009

See also:

PAC REPORT: Support to high-intensity operations

PARLIAMENT: Treating troops properly saves money, says MP

PARLIAMENT: Iraq-bound troops forced to 'scavenge' kit

PARLIAMENT: MP pays tribute to Reserve Forces

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