Andrew Robathan MP

The Ministry of Defence has announced around 4,100 job cuts across the armed forces today, as part of planned reduction in force numbers by 20,000 over the next five years.

Minister Andrew Robathan insisted that the MoD would "retain the capabilities that our Armed Forces require in order to meet the challenges of the future".

But Labour's Shadow Defence Secretary Jim Murphy responded: "We are concerned about the human and military impact of these job losses. Capability is being lost, as are people's livelihoods."

David Cameron has visited British troops on a pre-Christmas trip to Afghanistan. Speaking to reporters in Kandahar, the Prime Minister announced plans for a new cabinet committee to represent the interests of soldiers and veterans and outlined steps the Government is taking to ensure troops are well cared for.

He said: "We have doubled the operational allowance so that people serving out here in Afghanistan now get an extra £5,000 and using the money that way rather than having a blanket pay increase… is the right thing to do. We are also, for our armed services, not just leaving it at pay. We have exempted them from the pension increases… we are cutting their council tax."

Under the proposals the Military Covenant between the Government and the armed forces will become legally binding.

The Prime Minister said "Our Armed Forces do so much to keep us safe. That's why this government has enshrined the Military Covenant in law. This new Committee is about doing more to make the Covenant work - making sure that throughout their daily lives our troops, their families and veterans get all the help and support they need and in the coming year, I will make sure that we deliver."

Defence Minister Andrew Robathan is expected to make a statement to the House of Commons today detailing the proposals for the committee, which will be led by the Minister for Government Policy, Oliver Letwin.

Defence minister Andrew Robathan angered Second World War veterans by comparing the campaign for Arctic convoy medals to Colonel Gaddafi being "covered in" honours. Robathan suggested that the campaign looked to hand out medals so frequently that their value would be diminished. He said: "The intention post-war was not to cover everybody in medals. Medals in the UK mean something."

An annual ceremony to pay tribute to British armed forces killed in action is to take place at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire with the Earl of Wessex, Andrew Robathan MP and senior military representatives attending.

Critics have branded new rules for ministers over transport a "sham" after Andrew Robathan rejected public transport for a cross-Channel journey for the Dunkirk memorial in favour of official cars.

Andrew Robathan, an ex-SAS officer, has been made a defence minister - the first from the military for 13 years.