MP's plea for more Army helicopters
May 16, 2009 12:00 AM
Colchester MP Bob Russell has urged the Government to provide more helicopters to help Britain's military operations in Afghanistan. He made the plea in the House of Commons during a debate on defence procurement.
The Garrison Town's MP told the Commons: "Twice last year I visited British troops in Helmand Province. On both occasions, the message was the same - there was a need for more helicopters. That was particularly the case the second time, because 16 Air Assault Brigade, from Colchester, were there."
Liberal Democrat Mr Russell added: "If the procurement of additional helicopters is not going to happen as quickly as we would like, why cannot our European allies provide the additional helicopters, and the engineers and mechanics, and then allow our pilots from the Army, the Air Force and the Navy to fly them?"
Mr Russell also urged the Government to invest more in unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, or drones, which could identify potential ambushes. Still on Afghanistan, he asked about improved protection for vehicles against roadside bombs - and then praised the military medical staff for their work both in the field and in the hospital at Camp Bastion.
On a separate matter, he called on the Defence Select Committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the transfer about ten years ago of the former clothing and textile research establishment from Colchester - resulting in the loss of about 60 jobs in the town - to Bicester.
"A decade on, it has disappeared completely. An investigation is needed to see what was proposed and promised, and the reality of what happened when that world-beating research enterprise was moved from Colchester."
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