A pair of socks and a letter from home may provide some sorts of relief for Dutch soldiers serving in war zones, but one Dutch politician has a better idea.

Annemarie Jorritsma, a politician for the centre-right People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD) and the mayor of the nowhere town of Almere, went on national Dutch TV to demand the 'extra benefits' for soldiers.

She is calling on prostitutes to accompany troops on missions.

This politician, using the tried and true method of pointless dickfaced Dutch politicians; that of using the subject of prostitution to generate personal publicity, says: "The army must think about how their soldiers can let off some steam".

The Dutch sex workers union has backed the idea, and said it had some merit.

A military spokesman, on condition of anonymity, reportedly said: "I don't think my wife would like the idea very much."

There are currently around 2,000 Dutch soldiers stationed outside of the Netherlands, the majority in Afghanistan and Bosnia. It is not mentioned how these prostitutes are to be procurred to provide this national duty, but we're sure the subject will provoke many hours of half-arsed speculation amongst at least a few of the regular cast of suspects who usually weigh in on the subject of prostitution. Not counting us.