WEIR RAISES CONCERNS OVER MARINES EQUIPMENT IN PARLIAMENT

Angus MP Mike Weir has raised concerns over suggestions that 45 Commando are not receiving all the equipment they require for operations in Afghanistan.  Mr Weir raised the issue during the final day’s debate on the Queens Speech following comments by Chancellor Gordon Brown that the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan would receive everything they required.

Speaking during the debate, Mr Weir said:

“The Chancellor repeated, in a slightly different form, the assurance made by the prime Minister some weeks ago that troops in the field would get whatever equipment they required. 

“Troops from 45 Commando are currently operating in Afghanistan and there have been reports that they are not getting all the equipment that they require.  There is a disconnect between what is being said in this country and what is happening on the ground.

“Whatever we may feel about individual operations we should all agree that troops fighting these operations should get the equipment they need.”

Commenting afterwards Mr Weir said that the Prime Minister and Chancellor needed to back up their assurances with real action.

“Both the Prime Minister and Chancellor have made assurances on this issue, the reality as we saw from comments of the marines themselves last week is often very different.  The operation in Afghanistan is difficult and dangerous it should not be made worse by lack of proper equipment.”