Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

MilitaryLatest NewsRecruitment & retention

Ministry of Defence denies UK Armed Forces are overstretched

by Greg Pitcher 20 Nov 2006
by Greg Pitcher 20 Nov 2006

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has hit back at allegations that the UK’s Armed Forces are overstretched.

Newspaper reports this weekend suggested that 40% of units were “effectively out of action” due to shortages.

But in a statement released today, the MoD said the claim was “complete nonsense”.

“Readiness simply does not measure how many of our forces are in action,” said the statement. “Readiness is about how easily we can do any more than we are currently doing, not how easily we can do what we are currently doing.”

A National Audit Office report earlier this month highlighted that staffing levels had not been boosted in line with increasing overseas military operations.

But the MoD statement added: “The chief of the defence staff has made clear that the Armed Forces are stretched, but not overstretched.

“In reality, the National Audit Office has praised the MoD for the systems it has in place to measure and respond to readiness levels.”

The Conservative party called for chancellor Gordon Brown to provide the resources needed to attract more recruits to the forces.

Shadow secretary of state for defence Dr Liam Fox said: “This damning report confirms what we have been saying for some time. The gap between our commitments and our resources is growing and putting unacceptable pressures on our service personnel and their families.

“The government cannot continue like this – if the prime minister is going to continue making commitments then the chancellor must be willing to foot the bill.”

Avatar
Greg Pitcher

previous post
Papermaking sector employers and unions set to sign new employment relations deal
next post
Survey shows UK workers need paid training time

You may also like

Historical holiday underpayments must be paid

4 Oct 2023

MAC recommends scrapping shortage occupation list

4 Oct 2023

Advanced British Standard: Teacher recruitment plans ‘pie in...

4 Oct 2023

Scientist wins £340,000 in age discrimination case

4 Oct 2023

Lucy Letby: Hospital faces corporate manslaughter probe

4 Oct 2023

Sham training of security officers exposed

3 Oct 2023

ICO publishes workplace monitoring guidance

3 Oct 2023

Consultants offer ‘olive branch’ on strikes

3 Oct 2023

Personnel Today Awards 2023 shortlist: Innovation in Recruitment...

3 Oct 2023

Top 10 HR questions September 2023: the role...

3 Oct 2023

  • Almost a fifth of UK workers feel undervalued – we need to solve this PROMOTED | A new report has found...Read more
  • Discover the value of CIPD accreditation PROMOTED | See how the CIPD can increase your earning potential...Read more
  • What does it mean to be an HR professional in 2024? (survey) PROMOTED | The world of HR is changing rapidly...Read more
  • The Contractor Management Mastery Pack: Everything you need to manage and pay global contractors PROMOTED | Answers to cross-border...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2023

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2023 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+