NATO STAFFING OVER CHRISTMAS PERIOD

That this House is dismayed to learn that both Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe and JFC Brunssum will be closed for two full weeks over Christmas and New Year, that any telephone call to these establishments during this time will be greeted by a duty officer and that activities at Kabul and Kandahar will be `as normal' with patrols continuing without respite throughout this period; believes this situation is far from acceptable and that senior ranks and their support staff should stagger their periods of leave at this time to provide appropriate cover and that the Government should do all it can to ensure such measures are put in place as soon as possible.