Soldiers 'having to buy own kit'

Army boots melted in Oman last year

More than half the soldiers in the British Army buy their own kit because the standard-issue is inadequate, figures have revealed.

During the past year 55% of troops and 42% of officers say they had to pay mail-order services or army-surplus stores out of their own pockets.

They mainly bought boots, combat trousers, jackets, sleeping bags, torches and load-carrying equipment including day sacks and chest-webbing.

The Army says the standard-issue is fine but soldiers, like many young men, just want the best.

Gucci don't make desert boots

Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Paul Keetch

But the figures come from the Army's own official opinion poll, published in its magazine, Soldier.

And Liberal Democrat defence spokesman Paul Keetch says troops are "voting with their wallets" after being given inferior kit.

He told the BBC's Today programme the Ministry of Defence had criticised soldiers for buying "Gucci-style" equipment but "Gucci don't make desert boots".

Mr Keetch called on the government to ensure all troops who might be sent to the Gulf in the build-up to possible military action in Iraq are given "top quality" equipment that could cope with the sweltering temperatures of the desert.

Following last year's Saif Sareea II exercise in Oman, troops complained to the National Audit Office (NAO) that their feet had rotted after boots melted in temperatures of up to 55C.

The NAO also found uniforms made of man-made fibres had caused heat stress illnesses.