FOOD ALLOWANCE FOR SOLDIERS SAME AS THAT OF PRIMARY KIDS

FOOD ALLOWANCE FOR SOLDIERS SAME AS THAT OF PRIMARY KIDS

SNP SEIZE ON REPORTS OF UNDERFUNDING FOR TROOPS

SNP Westminster Leader and Defence Spokesperson, Angus Robertson MP, has seized on a report in the Sunday Post newspaper which reveals that troops serving on the frontline in Afghanistan are relying on food parcels sent by family and friends because the daily food allowance set by the Ministry of Defence (MoD) is so low.

The report states that the daily budget for each soldier is just £3.45 – deemed insufficient by many service men and women who have to rely on their own resources to supplement it. The MoD allows £1.72 for the main meal of the day which is 5p less that than the amount recommended for a primary school child’s main meal.

Commenting, Mr Robertson, who visited troops on the front line in Helmand Province last year, said:

"An army marches on its stomach and I think people will be disgusted that our brave troops are being underfed as well as under-equipped by this Labour government. I know, from my own visit to our forces on the frontline, just how difficult the conditions they endure are and it is just unforgiveable that something as basic, but essential, as food is not being properly provided.

"From equipment to food, reports of shortages and penny pinching are far too frequent. Our brave servicemen and women need our full support. Anything less risks damaging morale.

"Downing Street keeps making the wrong choices on cuts. Instead of scrimping on supplies, they should be axing the new generation of Trident nuclear weapons - an obscene waste of £100bn as troops have to buy their own food because their rations are inadequate.

"These are the wrong choices and underline just how out of touch Labour is."