Royal Navy funding cuts and future to be revealed in October
A deadline has been set for the end of a defence review which could bring major cuts to the Royal Navy.
On a visit to Portsmouth yesterday, Defence Secretary Liam Fox said that major decisions about where cuts would be made and which military projects face the axe will be made in September.
The results of the review would then be announced in Parliament in the last week of October.
Dr Fox revealed the timeline during a fact-finding mission to the city yesterday.
After a meeting with top brass at the naval base, the minister was then flown to HMS Richmond to take part in a firing and fast boat exercise in the Solent.
The former GP refused to say anything was safe from the axe, including Portsmouth Naval Base.
Speaking to The News onboard Richmond, he said: 'To be very frank with you, every option is on the table in a defence review. Everything does get examined if only to exclude it in some cases.
'I don't rule out anything but you shouldn't take that as an indication that any particular thing is being considered.'
But he did offer some hope, emphasising the importance of maritime trade and the protection it needs from the Royal Navy.
He said: 'It's worth reminding the United Kingdom that we're a maritime nation - 92 per cent of our trade goes by sea. A number of threats to our interests are by sea. This is no time for Britain to become sea blind.'
Last week Chancellor George Osborne revealed the 20bn cost of replacing the Trident nuclear deterrent would have to be met by the MoD and not the Treasury which has traditionally done so.
That decision was seen as a blow and could affect the aircraft carrier project. Two Queen Elizabeth class carriers are due to be built, with work well underway at dockyards across the country including Portsmouth.
But Dr Fox remained tightlipped on whether one or two will be constructed, and whether the second would be sold on.
He said: 'We do require power projection beyond our own continent and clearly seaborne power is one way to do that.
'It's true a lot of contracts have been entered into, they may be as expensive to leave as continue. We saw that with Eurofighter.
'But we will want to take decisions on what's best in Britain's interest in the long term, not best financially in the short term.'
MORALE GOOD BUT THOUGHTS STRAY TO UNCERTAIN FUTURE
Morale is still good among the ranks and ratings of the Royal Navy - but many admit the defence review does prey on their minds.
Defence Secretary Liam Fox revealed yesterday they were more than half way through the review and its results would be revealed in October instead of a previous expected date of nearer Christmas.
He said: 'People will feel anxious and nervous and I entirely understand that which is partly why we want the review to be carried out more quickly than would otherwise have been the case.'
The company of HMS Richmond revealed how busy they are in their working lives - but how potential budget cuts was not far from their minds.
Leading physical trainer Natalie Bavister, 26, of Portsmouth, said: 'It is spoken about. But I don't think it's affected morale. Everybody tries to be positive.'
Captain Mike Wallacher said: 'I would say morale is extremely good. But what people don't like is uncertainty so in some ways we welcome the defence review.
'I've been in the navy 27 years and we've never been busier.
'Whether it's stretched is a different matter. We're always working as hard as we possibly can and there's no doubt the Navy is sweating.'
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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