Funding call follows Nimrod crash report

The head of the Royal Air Force has warned staffing cuts have gone as far as they can, and appealed to ministers for more men.His comments came just hours after an official inquiry into the crash of a Nimrod aircraft in Afghanistan, in which all 14 servicemen on board were killed.The RAF Board of Inquiry (BoI) found that ageing components and a lack of fire suppressants were among the "contributory factors" which led to the accident.The aircraft exploded in a ball of flames just minutes after undergoing air-to-air refuelling during an intelligence-gathering mission over southern Afghanistan on September 2, 2006.Air Chief Marshal Sir Glenn Torpy, the Chief of the Air Staff, said the RAF had reduced in manpower from 48,000 to 41,000."I believe the Air Force is now as lean as it can possibly be. And, with the addition of new capabilities such as some new helicopters, two extra C17s, the Reaper unmanned air vehicle, then I believe we need some more manpower," he said.He added: "I can always spend more money but it's up to the Government and it's up to the general public to decide how much money we spend on defence."Shadow defence minister Gerald Howarth said Sir Glenn's comments showed that the Government had "cut too far"."The accumulative effect on families as well as on the equipment and the ability to train has meant that the RAF has taken risks," Mr Howarth said."We have been saying that the cuts to the service are seriously eroding the RAF's ability to deliver."They are operating clapped out aircraft and experienced personnel are leaving for other jobs."The Defence Secretary, Des Browne has apologised for the Nimrod crash, but the bereaved are still angry.Mr Browne has promised a public inquiry if necessary.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

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ITN | December 5, 2007

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