Worried fleet staff demand honesty in privatisation plan
Worried Fleet Auxiliary workers and their families have expressed concern that defence did not feature highly in the pre-Budget report.
RFA workers - who have 1,800 supporters on a Downing Street petition - were waiting for Chancellor Alistair Darling to mention the privatisation plans for the flotilla yesterday.
But there was only a brief mention of needing to tighten procurement as part of a general squeeze on the Ministry of Defence budget.
Southsea resident Sheena Brown, whose daughter serves in the RFA, said: 'I thought it was terrible that they didn't mention the plans for the auxiliary.
'Everyone is fearing what will happen next and the real thing to worry about is what isn't mentioned - like the privatisation.'
In October stunned RFA workers were told at a secret meeting on Whale Island in Portsmouth that they would have to go through a second value-for-money review in two years.
That was despite reassurances made to the 2,000 workers, who deliver fuel, weapons and supplies to the navy's warships around the world.
A serving member of the RFA, who has lived in Portsmouth for 15 years but does not want to be named, said: 'We were told that it was likely that the review would be mentioned in the report, so that was not good.
'It seems to many of us that the MoD has decided this is a done deal and the best thing is to keep it out of the public eye.'
Since it was launched last month more than 1,860 people have signed Mrs Brown's Downing Street petition to protect the fleet auxiliary.
In 2007 Prince Edward, in his role as Commodore-in-Chief, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, explained the value of the service.
During a visit to the Falkland Islands to mark the 25th anniversary of the 1982 war, he said: 'The Royal Navy simply wouldn't be able to operate without the RFA, who are becoming an increasingly vital asset.
'Destroyers like HMS Edinburgh would not be able to operate down here if it were not for RFA Gold Rover.'
The review is ongoing.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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