MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Falklands Defence is 'money well spent'

A group of visiting British MPs unanimously said there is no need to justify the cost of defending the Falkland Islands.

The five spent last week in the Islands as part of the British Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme. Most of their stay was with the British Forces in Mount Pleasant however they also met with Falklands' government officials and toured Stanley.

They visited the Junior School, Camp Education, hospital and museum and met with election candidates and the Governor. They also spent time with the Falkland Islands Defence Force and were treated to a quick trip around Stanley Harbour in a rigid raider before enjoying a dinner at Government House.

At a press conference last Monday, Andrew Rosindell MP (Conservative) said the visit was valuable as the group were gaining experience, not only of the armed forces but also of the Falklands. This was important, he said, because, "...we as MPs can go back and speak up for the Falkland Islands to ensure your voice is heard."

The MPs said unanimously that funding for the defence of the Falkland Islands is money well spent and they all believe the British public also feels this way.

Conservative MEP Richard Ashworth commented, "I've never heard anyone back in Britain say they are resentful; I think people feel there are kith and kin living here who have every right to self-determination just as much as someone living in Sussex or Surrey does".

Labour MP Brian Donohoe said there was no need to justify the cost of defence and added, "It would be an absolute nonsense if we were to invest all that we have done and then walk away from it -in fact it would cost us more in real terms to do that than to maintain the presence that we've got here..." Further on he emphasized, "Indeed, there's a case to be made to increase the level of attachment here because there are so many advantages in terms of training troops in this terrain. In the present climate that we have, with terrorism, this is an ideal opportunity for us that should be exploited more..."

In the Falklands for his second visit, Gerald Howarth MP (Conservative), shadow Minister on Defence agreed: "Leave apart the strategic importance of the vital foothold in the South Atlantic, and just look at the huge pressure on the British Forces for training facilities around the UK and in Germany. The Falklands presents us with really magnificent training facilities across each of the three services..." Mr Howarth last visited the Falklands when he accompanied veterans on the 2002 SAMA Pilgrimage.

And how important did the MPs feel is it for Falkland Islanders to contribute to their own defence? Peter Bottomley (Conservative) commented, "They already do through the Defence Force," and Gerald Howarth added, "...they contribute more in terms per capita as a proportion of GDP than people in the UK; I don't think there's any question of Falkland Islanders being slouchers as far as their own self-defence is concerned".

Andrew Rosindell said the British Government has a duty to defend all British people: "it doesn't matter if it's the Falklands, Northern Ireland or Gibraltar, or mainland UK..." He added, "I think all British people should be defended in the same way, that's the duty of Her Majesties Government".

The Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme

The five MPs visited the Islands as part of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme which, Gerald Howarth explained, began around ten years ago.

The scheme was the brainchild of an MP who was also a Territorial Army officer: "He was concerned that there were very few MPs who had military experience and saw this as a way to ensure more did have experience. "It was thought that rather than going around in suits with 'MPs' written all over our foreheads, we ought to get stuck in and get to meet people right deep in the services."

Richard Ashworth said the advantage of this is, "...you put a human face to decisions which have to be taken at parliamentary level. "Decisions whether to reduce expenditure or to commit troops or decisions that impact on the armed forces are too often done rather remotely and without knowing the morale of the troops and what the effect would be on those people.."

Photo:Camouflaged MPs (from left to right): Richard Ashworth, Andrew Rosindell, Peter Bottomley, Brian Donohoe and Gerald Howarth. (PN)