New concerns about Armed Forces readiness
A new National Audit Office report has raised concerns about the high level of military operations.
Its report on the readiness of the Armed Forces found that Navy funds had been diverted to the Army for use in Afghanistan and the RAF pilots were spending an hour less in the air each month.
But the MoD is praised for having a good system for reporting the readiness of the Armed Forces, although “more work” is needed to “define and mitigate the main areas of risk to the readiness of the Armed Forces, such as logistic support.”
Readiness levels for October to December 2004 (the last period for which data is available) were assessed as ‘yellow’ – minor weaknesses.
Only two per cent of forces had ‘critical’ weaknesses and 38 per cent had ‘serious’ weakness.
The report notes: “Given the unpredictable security environment and high operational tempo, there are risks to readiness of the Armed Forces for contingent operations that need to be managed.”
In the last three years the NAO notes that the activity levels have exceeded routine peacetime levels – something the Armed Forces expect to continue for the “foreseeable future”.
In these circumstances there are a number of concerns about the current MOD reliance on urgent (just in time) procurement to fill gaps in equipments levels.
The NAO also warns that the current practise of redistributing personnel and equipment from non-deployed units to those on active service could cause problems.
It concluded “there is a potential danger that the cumulative effect of a series of minor risks could have serious impacts on the readiness of force elements for further operations.”
Auditor General Sir John Bourn said: “The Ministry of Defence has identified a number of factors that may hinder the readiness of the Armed Forces and these need to be watched carefully.
“In particular, it needs to evaluate longer term risks to the United Kingdom forces’ ability to undertake future operations.”
Armed Forces Minister Adam Ingram said he would listen to the NAO’s recommendations.
Mr Ingram said: “No Armed Forces can be perfectly ready at all times for every contingency, but we must be able to manage effectively the risks to preparing forces for new operations. This report underlines our commitment to achieving this complex but crucial task.”
But Shadow Defence Secretary Michael Ancram told the BBC: “This Government is effectively sending our forces to war with one arm tied behind their back.
“The risk that the MoD is taking is utterly unacceptable and entirely driven by the Treasury’s ambition to save funds by depleting the capability and the readiness of our armed forces.”
