Expert Demands Government Action

An armed forces specialist at Irwin Mitchell has called on the government to ensure that concerns raised over the stability of the military supply chain are addressed quickly to ensure the safety of troops.

The call has come following the release of a report by the Commons public accounts committee, which states that there is high risk that the current supply chain could fail – with such problems likely to lead to shortages within 30 days.

While the government is currently investing to address the issue, the report raised concerns that systems are still unlikely to be improved before 2014.

According to the committee chairwoman Margaret Hodge, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has promised to improve the supply chain for the past 25 years.

Zoe Sutton, a solicitor at Irwin Mitchell’s Sheffield, specialises in armed forces injury cases and notably acted for the families of the RMP 6 servicemen killed in a police station in Iraq in June 2003.

Commenting on the supply chain issues, she said: “Troops serving in some of the most dangerous environments in the world deserve the best possible support that authorities can offer them, which includes the provision of vital equipment that can often be the difference between life and death.

“Sadly, this report has once again identified how the supply chain remains in a fragile condition, as well as the potential consequences that a breakdown could have on the armed forces.

“It is vital that the MoD seriously considers how revisions to the system can be made as soon as possible, in order to ensure the armed forces are able to carry out their roles effective and safely.”