Portsmouth MP welcomes news on Aircraft Carriers and retention of Portsmouth Naval Base
25/07/2007
Mike Hancock, MP (Lib Dem – Portsmouth South) who is a member of the Defence Select Committee and in whose constituency Portsmouth Naval Base is located, has welcomed news that two new aircraft carriers will built and be based in Portsmouth and Portsmouth Naval Base will be retained. The news was given by the Secretary of State for Defence in a ministerial statement today in Parliament.
The Defence Secretary said in Parliament that all three naval bases including Portsmouth will be retained. But he also said that there would be rationalisation and some reduction in the current 17,800 jobs in the three naval bases subject to consultation. Mike Hancock has also had a letter from the Minister of State for Armed Forces, Bob Ainsworth dated today, 25th July 2007 which says that: “We are also currently considering a number of broad cross-Government issues [on the naval base] to assess the possible cost implications for the different options. While this complex work is progressing well, further work is required before final conclusions can be reached… I cannot give a firm date for an announcement at this stage. It is important that the Naval Base Review is allowed to run its course to ensure that the right decision is made.”
Mike Hancock said: “First of all, I welcome the announcement in Parliament that all three naval bases will be retained and that the new aircraft carriers will be based in Portsmouth. This is excellent news and I am very pleased that there has been a tremendous vote of confidence by the Government in Portsmouth. It is a great tribute to the work of everyone connected to the base including the efficiency savings that the workforce and managers have achieved in recent years. It is also a tribute to the work that a large number of people have been doing putting the city’s case.”
“This is though a long over-due announcement and there has been much worry and uncertainty in the city for a long time. It is disappointing that this confirmation in Parliament by the minister has come so late – right at the end of the Parliamentary session. I have had to push for a statement to be made before Parliament rises and I am pleased that they have now done that. This though leaves little opportunity for MPs to pursue matters arising from the statement. The formal details of the Naval Base Review have still to be announced. I hope those will be announced as soon as possible but it will remain another two and half months at least before MPs can put vital questions to ministers about this. The Defence minister has said there will be “no salami slicing” but it is important that we continue to put the case for as much of the current capability as possible to be kept at Portsmouth. And I believe the announcement that the aircraft carriers are to based at Portsmouth shows the need for a strong and capable base to be kept here.”
