Claim troops facing reunion delays
Tuesday 2nd March 2010, 2:32PM GMT.
Shropshire soldiers returning from service in Afghanistan are being delayed from being reunited with their families because of inadequate air transportation, MP Mark Pritchard has warned ministers.
The Wrekin MP said one constituent was reduced to tears because her husband was stuck in Cyprus following his tour of duty.
He said: “It is completely unacceptable when troops are returning from the frontline in Afghanistan that they should be delayed unnecessarily, not because of bad weather, but because of problems with ageing, old airframes.
“That time is taken away from time at home with their loved ones. It is not good enough.”
Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth admitted there were problems “from time to time”, but added: “We do everything that we can do to minimise those problems.”
But Mr Pritchard went on: “It is important that people on R and R can go back to their homes in the UK as quickly as possible rather than be stuck in Cyprus or elsewhere.”
Mr Pritchard said afterwards: “The Government needs to do far more and make every effort to ensure that troops’ R and R is not spent unnecessarily in holding halls because of delayed aircraft – not through weather, but because of major technical faults.
“Ministers need to look at sourcing different aircraft within the existing air fleet.”
The MP raised the issue during a defence debate in the Commons yesterday.
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
Disgusting – sort it out now Brown!
Report abuse
It took them 12 hours to get my Partner out there and 2 and a half days to get him home to us!!!!
Report abuse
You have my every support Louise – it’s downright disrespectful toward your husband and any other personnel to put them through this. I should imagine looking forward to spending time with family at the end of a tour goes a long way to getting through one. What is it with this government? Are they really so flaming stupid and uncaring as they display themselves to be? Really makes me angry
Report abuse
At least you know your partner is coming home. That’s more than some of us get.
Stop bloody moaning and just be grateful that he’s not coming home in a box!!!
Report abuse
this hase been happening for ages….the only reason he’s making a public issue is it’s nearly election time
Report abuse