PMQ clash over helicopters for Afghanistan

Prime Minister's Question Time (yah-boo rubbish usually) had a defence theme this week as David Cameron used the theme of the lack of equipment for the troops in Afghanistan as his theme. He said that only a small amount of the total helicopters available to the British armed forces are in Afghanistan, and the US Marines who have the same number of troops as the British there have far more helicopters. The Prime Minister responded by saying more choppers would be available but they required modification before they could be deployed.

Thats true of course but some of these modifications are taking time. For example 6 ex-Danish (but brand new) Merlin helicopters bought in 2007 for use in Afghanistan but they have still not been upgraded despite the MOD saying it would be done by 2008.