DEFENCE SELECT COMMITTEE REPORT AND HELICOPTER AVAILABILITY IN AFGHANISTAN

That this House welcomes the Defence Select Committee's Eleventh Report, HC 434, Session 2008-09 on Helicopter Capability published on 16 July 2009; notes the Committee's conclusion that `We are concerned that operational commanders in the field today are unable to undertake potentially valuable operations because of the lack of helicopters...' and that operational commanders find they have to ground transport, when helicopter lift would be preferred, both for the outcome and protection of our forces; further notes the Committee's conclusion that given the age of the Sea King and Puma helicopters and the poor survivability of the Puma, extending their lives at considerable cost is not the best option, either operationally or in terms of the use of public money; and calls on the Government to bring forward urgently the acquisition of the Future Medium Helicopter, considering options such as additional Merlin helicopters, rather than proceeding with life extensions of Sea King and Puma helicopters.