Westminster SNP leader Angus Robertson has urged the Ministry of Defence to reform its current rules on troop vacation from conflict zones like Iraq and Afghanistan.

Following talks with troops serving in Iraq, Robertson argued the need to review current rules that state travel home from conflict zones is counted as part of vacation time.

He commented: "Having spoken to a lot of troops in Basra I really think the MoD needs to look at its rules for troop vacation from conflict zones. It cannot be right that travel home is counted as part of the 14 day break, especially when people are losing up to six days in transit.

"At a time of military overstretch and severe strain on the Military Covenant it is imperative that the MoD gets a fix to this problem as it is clearly an issue of concern to the troops."