Rest breaks to end for short-tour personnel

Shorter deployments are being reduced below four months – meaning there will be no entitlement to a week's break.

Defence Secretary Liam Fox said the changes would allow priority to be given to the needs of the personnel who carry out longer tours.

Those serving six months or more in Afghanistan will still be entitled to a two- week rest and recuperation break – and from now on if flights home are delayed the lost time will be added to their post-operational leave.

Troops have long complained that their breaks from intense operations are eaten up by protracted journeys home, an issue David Cameron pledged in 2008 to end by making rest periods begin when individuals arrived home.

The length of short tours will be reduced from January 1 next year.