In
Defence Questions in the House of Commons Peter Viggers expressed
concern that the numbers of Standing Tasks undertaken by
the Royal Navy had been cut from seven to six and was to
be cut further to four because of a lack of ships.
He pointed out that a cut of two Type 42 frigates and one
Type 23, combined with a delay until 2009 in the in-service
date of the Type 45s would mean that the Royal Navy might
not be able to fulfil even the four remaining tasks.
“Is this the time to cut commitments when the Royal
Navy can do so much to promote maritime stability world-wide?”,
he asked. The bulk of our trade still comes by sea.
One Standing task
is in the South Atlantic to confirm our interests there.
One is in the West Indies performing an
important patrol against drug trafficking. Two rôles
are in the Mediterranean and two are in the Indian Ocean
in support of our land operations and promoting stability.
All of this is before we make any allowance for emergencies
or military operations.
Much publicity has been given to cuts in the Army, but cuts
in the Navy are perhaps even more severe and difficult to
rectify. |
