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Jobs fears over delayed carriers
There are fears that jobs could be under threat in our area after the navy confirmed its new aircraft carriers would be delivered years later than planned.
Defence Secretary John Hutton said yesterday that HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales could enter service between one and two years later than their planned dates of 2014 and 2016.
In a written statement Mr Hutton said: 'We have concluded that there is scope for bringing more closely into line the introduction of the Joint Combat Aircraft and the aircraft carrier.
'This is likely to mean delaying the in-service date of the new carriers by one to two years.'
The carriers are each due to carry 36 Lockheed Martin fighter jets but industry reports say these will not be ready until 2017.
BVT Surface Fleet, the firm building the carriers, is due to cut the first steel for the carriers early next year, but defence experts say the delays must threaten jobs.
Portsmouth South MP Mike Hancock, who sits on the Defence Select Committee said: 'Once again we are getting an insight into this government's muddled thinking on a major project.
'The two-year delay on the second carrier, which is probably a minimum, must make it extremely difficult for the Minister to say with any confidence that jobs will not be threatened.
'The carrier project is absolutely essential to Portsmouth and the demands to divert funds to current operations will jeopardise the long-term future for shipbuilding.'
Alistair Thompson, deputy Tory leader of Portsmouth City Council, added: 'The government is simply not giving the carrier project the respect it deserves and that is likely to have negative consequences for workers in this area.'
Charles Thompson, spokesman for BVT Surface Fleet, said: 'With specific regard to the Future Aircraft Carrier project, we are working closely with our aircraft carrier partners to re-programme the schedule in line with the later dates and to meet the MoD's available budget.
'BVT has a solid order book, clear vision and robust business plan and looks forward to building on its position as the UK's leading provider of surface warships.'
Portsmouth North Labour MP Sarah McCarthy-Fry said the government was still committed to building the carriers.
She said: 'Those who claimed the project was under threat should apologise to workers for the uncertainty they generated,'
'The news that work will take longer will be welcomed by construction workers whose jobs will be guaranteed for longer.'
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Weather for Portsmouth
Sunday 12 February 2012
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Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
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