MoD supply chain 'at risk of collapse'

The supply chain that provides vital equipment to frontline troops is at "critical risk of failure", MPs have warned in a damning report published today.

British forces serving in Afghanistan or around Libya could be hit by shortages within as little as 30 days if the system broke down, the Commons Public Accounts Committee revealed.

The committee said the Ministry of Defence accepted that the IT systems used to manage the complex military supply chain were "not adequate for the task" and thatits Defence Logistics Board rated the risk of failure of these warehouse inventory systems as "extremely high" and, at one point, "critical".

The committee chairman, Margaret Hodge, expressed exasperation at the failure of the MoD to get to grips with the problems.

The defence equipment minister, Peter Luff, said the complexity and challenges of supplying conflict zones should not be underestimated. "Ensuring our armed forces on the frontline have all they need is a top priority," he said.