@ Bob Ainsworth

we would like an answer to this question; Why is the MoD/SPVA refusing to inform current service personnel who are wounded and injured, let alone service families with chronic ill and/or disabled member's,... Show more »we would like an answer to this question;
Why is the MoD/SPVA refusing to inform current service personnel who are wounded and injured, let alone service families with chronic ill and/or disabled member's, or chronic ill and disabled veteran's,  about state benefits they are entitled too. With regards I  as a disabled rights person am having to travel around the UK teaching military unit welfare officer's and teams, service personnel and families, let alone veteran's about these benefits they are entitled to,  equally personnel from military charities as well. Directly because of the failures of the likes of the Veteran Minister and Minister for Disabled People, causing not only million's of pounds are going unclaimed in benefits, but disabled soldier's, service families and veteran's, plus military charities, have paid out tens of hundreds of thousands if not million's of pounds, in taxes and vat duties on goods and services for servicemen and women own disabilities, they did not need too. Equally being made to pay high power and water bills, than they have too, as disabled people they are entitled to reduced tariff power and water bills schemes too. In fact we are being asked by local council officer's to give presentation about this, so local civilian disabled people will not suffere let alone military disabled people too. So I Ex-Cllr Wendy Harbon[disabled in the line of duty myself] would like an official answer from the Secretary of State of Defence Bob Ainsworth MP, why his failures are allowing this, maybe he agreeing to see me in person over this ?. Show less »

Submitted by: gurkha mum | 13 votes for this..

0 comments | Topic: Politics |

@ Bob Ainsworth

Do you actually believe that there can be any positive outcome in Afghanistan that will warrant losing the lives of so many courageous service men?  This exercise in Afghanistan is resulting in many of... Show more »

Do you actually believe that there can be any positive outcome in Afghanistan that will warrant losing the lives of so many courageous service men?  This exercise in Afghanistan is resulting in many of the british public losing faith in our government and yet there does seem no reasonable explanation for the purpose of it.

Submitted by: ltodd | 13 votes for this..

0 comments | Topic: World Affairs |

@ Bob Ainsworth

Is there any studies/work being carried out to further help troops to detect and destroy IEDs other than the good old detector and feet of the troops currently being used.  Gordon Brown said he was sending... Show more »Is there any studies/work being carried out to further help troops to detect and destroy IEDs other than the good old detector and feet of the troops currently being used.  Gordon Brown said he was sending further help to combat these devises BUT I and many others would prefer technology rather than troops to do this. Show less »

Submitted by: elaine | 13 votes for this..

0 comments | Topic: World Affairs |

@ Bob Ainsworth

To what extent is bringing security and stability to Afghanistan contingent on ISAF support of poppy cultivation?

Submitted by: benmonypenny | 11 votes for this..

0 comments | Topic: World Affairs |

@ Bob Ainsworth

To what extent do you believe firstly, that the mission in Afghanistan is progressing and secondly, how is that progress measured?

Submitted by: EC | 11 votes for this..

0 comments | Topic: World Affairs |

@ Bob Ainsworth

With a aviation survey just carried out, where 47% asked said the EADS/Airbus A400M transport programme should be cancelled now, because of years of delays and billion dollars over budget costs, with ... Show more »With a aviation survey just carried out, where 47% asked said the EADS/Airbus A400M transport programme should be cancelled now, because of years of delays and billion dollars over budget costs, with another 7 billion dollars being asked for by Airbus from the UK and other launch country customer's.  Can the Mod afford the A400M purchase of just 25 aircraft ?, equally with the US.Navy saying the F35 JSF programme costs, both in development costs and purchase cost have doubled, let alone operating cost for the F-35 is higher than F-18's and AV-8B Harrier (GR.7/9's) it will replace, at over $30,000 per hour it flys, will the MoD be able to afford 150 F-35's for the RAF & FAA ?.
When the army, navy and air force all need more helicopters and need them now ?.
Then in the last few days with question's over airworthiness of the RAF Fleet of VC-10's and the early decommissioning of the Nimrod MR.2's and R.1's again over airworthiness ?.
Can the MoD really afford replacement programmes, for transport aircraft, tanker aircraft, fighter aircraft, ISTAR aircraft, plus transport and SAR helicopters and/or armed-recon/utility helicopters too ?.
Or is the truth Afghanistan operation's after Iraq costs, in personnel killed and disabled, vehicles, equipment and aircraft  losses etc, is not just bankrupting the Mod but the British Government is the real truth ?, on top of MoD mismanagement of defence projects, programmes and operation's, has wasted million's if not billion's of tax payer's money, will cause more and more defence cuts too ?.
For example the new Royal Navy Aircraft Carrier and/or the replacement Trident Nuclear Submarine prgrammes, plus othe warships programmes being canncelled or reduced ?.
With our British Army Forces, will pay the price and therefore the countries secuirty will in the years to come ?, and just for get welfare programmes for our servicemen and women, service families and veteran's will just be flushing down the toilet ?. Show less »

Submitted by: David Hughes | 14 votes for this..

0 comments | Topic: World Affairs |

@ Bob Ainsworth

What recognition is being given to troops who our out in Afghanistan without the full Operational Welfare Package and in harsh living conditions? Paradigm Sat phones are scarce in some areas as are the... Show more »What recognition is being given to troops who our out in Afghanistan without the full Operational Welfare Package and in harsh living conditions? Paradigm Sat phones are scarce in some areas as are the textlink machines aswell as breaking quiet fequently. I guess to put it in black and white... a soldier in bastion gets full welfare package (even Wi Fi internet now) and a soldier at a Checkpoint gets no electricity, running water and lives/eats/sleeps/washes/toilets out of a bag. Surely something should be done to recognise this? Be that a bar on their medal or some Unpleasant living allowance. I hope for a reply Show less »

Submitted by: Jo | 17 votes for this..

0 comments | Topic: Other |

@ David Miliband

You recently said "the politics is as important as the military" and that success will be measured by the number of Afghans living peacefully within the constitution. What political strategy for Afghanistan... Show more »You recently said "the politics is as important as the military" and that success will be measured by the number of Afghans living peacefully within the constitution. What political strategy for Afghanistan toward state-building and away from tribally oriented politics is the UK Government pursuing? Does it extend beyond Karzai's fraudulent re-election? Show less »

Submitted by: itsmattsmith | 10 votes for this..

0 comments | Topic: World Affairs |

@ David Miliband

Do you think President Hamid Karzi will be able to provide  a stable situation in Afghanistan with his new cabinet? Mr President H.Karzi has possessed the president chair through corruption; do you think... Show more »Do you think President Hamid Karzi will be able to provide  a stable situation in Afghanistan with his new cabinet? Mr President H.Karzi has possessed the president chair through corruption; do you think he will be able to eliminate corrupption from the country itself? Do you think Mr Karzi has education, health, women equal rights and Poverty on his top agenda and how serious he is on these issues? Show less »

Submitted by: Tahera N. | 10 votes for this..

0 comments | Topic: Politics |

@ David Miliband

Sir,Why oo you think that war is the only solution of problems in Afganistan and to control Talibans when it seems in-effective until now?Why you do not consider table talks with Talibans and people of... Show more »Sir,Why oo you think that war is the only solution of problems in Afganistan and to control Talibans when it seems in-effective until now?Why you do not consider table talks with Talibans and people of Afghanistan which may be more effective to control these issues? Show less »

Submitted by: Sania | 10 votes for this..

0 comments | Topic: World Affairs |

@ David Miliband

Dear Sir Are you considering any military action inside Pakistan soil as the real nest and the root of Alqada laying there rather than villages of Afghanistan. Also are you monitoring the the money ... Show more »Dear Sir Are you considering any military action inside Pakistan soil as the real nest and the root of Alqada laying there rather than villages of Afghanistan. Also are you monitoring the the money you are giving to Pakistani military and Pakistan ISI to make sure that the money is not redirected to fund Alqa da and Takiban? Show less »

Submitted by: Naim | 15 votes for this..

0 comments | Topic: World Affairs |

@ David Miliband

What measures are being  taken to tackel the issue of corruption within the afghan government?