In addition to AA62's post, a long time ago in a ground tour far away I was given the job of preparing a point brief for AO Plans on parachute losses as part of rationalising all of MOD's parachute packing and transportation activities. The loss figures were fairly eye-watering even in those days of a less stringent budget, so that may well be a legacy factor. I am not sure how much was allocated for airdrop in Afghanistan or what our stocks are now but I would imagine that somewhere, a niche group of beancounters are sharpening their pencils...