PM makes eqiupment pledge to troops.

Summary: Gordon Brown has pledged to ensure that British troops fighting on the frontline in Afghanistan have the equipment they need.

Gordon Brown has vowed to do "whatever is necessary" to ensure that British troops fighting on the frontline in Afghanistan have the equipment they needed.

In a Remembrance Sunday interview with British Forces Broadcasting Service Radio, the Prime Minister said that the Government was doing "more than ever" to protect and safeguard UK forces on operations.

"I can say to every one of our forces that where there is a need for equipment and a need for support, that need will be met," he said.

"We are determined that when we send our troops to Afghanistan we give them all the protection and all the support we can."

On Friday, four former chiefs of the defence staff - Field Marshal Lord Inge, General Lord Guthrie of Craigiebank, Admiral Lord Boyce and General Lord Walker of Aldringham - lined up in the House of Lords to denounce the Government's lack of support for the forces.

However, Mr Brown defended his record, saying that the Government was spending Au3.5 billion this year on operations in Afghanistan on top of the defence budget which had risen by Au1 billion.

The Prime Minister also paid tribute to the courage of all those who had died on operations in Afghanistan during the interview.

"I think that people should have great pride in the dedication of all our forces and while, when deaths happen, there is little that one can say by words of comfort, I think there is some consolation over the longer term in knowing that the bravery of troops is second to none," he said.

Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

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