Afghanistan

MOD defends Afghan entertainment costs

The Ministry of Defence has defended the cost of 'morale-boosting' trips to troops on the frontline.

Figures provided by the MOD to Parliament show over £400,000 was spent taking professional singers, dancers, musicians and comedians to Afghanistan in 2011.

The money also paid for crew, light and sound engineers, tour managers, equipment preparation and hire, insurance, medicals, CONDO training as well as the production design, choreography and rehearsals.

The figure is not thought to include the cost of celebrity visits.

A MOD spokesman said: "Entertainment of members of the Armed Forces is, and has for many years been, an important element of the Deployment Welfare Package. It helps to maintain morale and thereby the combat effectiveness of Service personnel.

"This figure does include an element for UK travel and mobilisation costs. However, entertainment personalities who visit Afghanistan under this contract or under other auspices are transported and accommodated alongside Armed Forces personnel at minimal extra cost to the public purse."