Search: Ainsworth defence grilling
Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth is due to face MPs over the latest developments in Afghanistan and the "tough choices" faced by the UK's military in the future.
He will give evidence to the defence select committee a day after the UK death toll in Afghanistan exceeded that of the Falklands war.
And he will also be grilled over the details of a blueprint for the medium and long-term operation of the armed forces set out in a Green Paper last week.
Mr Ainsworth said on Monday that Britain must hold its resolve in Afghanistan as allies prepared to launch a major new offensive against insurgents in central Helmand.
"We have seen an intense, hard and bloody period in Afghanistan but, as we prepare to consolidate our progress with the launch of Operation Moshtarak, it is imperative that we hold our resolve. The national security of the UK and the safety of its citizens depends on that," he said.
He had previously warned that British casualties were a "very real risk" during the bid to clear militants from areas surrounding the town of Marjah in Helmand.
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A total of 256 British servicemen and women have now died since operations in Afghanistan began in October 2001. The latest casualty, a soldier from 36 Engineer Regiment, part of the counter-IED Task Force, was killed on Monday by an explosion in Nad-e-Ali, Afghanistan, said the Ministry of Defence. Next-of-kin have been informed.
The Green Paper, which laid the ground for a full-scale strategic defence review after the general election, indicated that Britain's Armed Forces will have to co-operate more closely in future with international allies such as France to provide the full range of defence capabilities.
The paper did not refer to the future of specific programmes - apart from confirming the decision to go ahead with the £20 billion update of Britain's Trident nuclear deterrent. But Mr Ainsworth said the "likelihood" was that the Royal Navy would still get its two planned new aircraft carriers, although he refused to be drawn on American-built Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) intended to fly from them.
The immediate priority for the forces remained the campaign in Afghanistan, with funding from the Treasury reserve set to increase from £3.5 billion this year to £5 billion next year, he said.
