The attack on the UK Government's treatment of Britain's Armed Forces by five former defence chiefs was yesterday condemned as "potentially very dangerous" to the wellbeing of the nation's troops on the frontline.

The counter-offensive by Des Browne came as Gordon Brown's administration was once again castigated for allowing the role of Defence Secretary to be combined with that of Scottish Secretary.

Last month, Admiral Lord Boyce, who was defence chief at the time of the 2003 Iraq invasion, claimed the Prime Minister had treated troops "with contempt" by appointing his Scottish colleague to the dual role.

During question-time in the Commons, the Secretary of State told MPs that UK forces had never been as well-equipped as they were today. "It is unfortunate at best that people constantly refer to our troops as not being able to do their job when that is not the case," insisted Mr Browne.

He warned: "It is potentially very dangerous also because there is an enemy who listens to every single thing that is said in this House or reported in our media. Our troops' force-protection, in my view, is undermined by people who misdescribe the level of protection they actually have."

The Defence Secretary was responding to Labour's Chris Mullin, a former minister, who last week accused the former chiefs of defence staff of having an "umbilical link" to the "military wing of the Tory party" and said their tongue-lashing in a Lords debate last month went "way over the top".

Mr Mullin pointed out the ex-military chiefs' claims ran counter to the assessment of General Sir Richard Dannatt, the current head of the Army, who welcomed "significant" new investment in equipment and facilities for troops during a briefing for MPs.

Later, Liam Fox, the Shadow Defence Secretary, challenged Mr Browne over further criticisms voiced by current service chiefs.

"The Chief of the General Staff says the Army has almost no capability to react to the unexpected. The Assistant Chief of the Naval Staff says the Royal Navy would be challenged to mount a medium-scale operation in accordance with current policy against a technologically-capable adversary.

"Which of these should the country be more worried about?" he asked.

The Secretary of State replied: "It is recognised that with the conclusion of operations in Northern Ireland, Bosnia and the planned reduction of troops in Iraq, then a significant amount of that pressure will be reduced."

In a separate development, Julian Lewis for the Conservatives said Mr Browne's dual role sent out "a terrible signal to members of the Armed Forces". He pointed out how he was told by an official that "following the recent cabinet reshuffle, the MoD was instructed to pay Des Browne a ministerial salary and the Scotland Office was instructed not to". He added: "So there may not be enough money in the defence budget for helicopters but there is enough for the Secretary of State for Scotland."

Mr Browne insisting his department's record was "very impressive" and asked MPs to judge him by "what I do" rather than by "manufactured" criticisms.