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Navy needs extra £1bn - Admiral Navy needs extra £1bn - Admiral
(10 minutes later)
The head of the Royal Navy has warned that the service needs another £1bn to meet future foreign policy demands.The head of the Royal Navy has warned that the service needs another £1bn to meet future foreign policy demands.
Admiral Sir Jonathan Band appealed for the cash - a third of the navy's annual operating budget - to spend on new ships, at a journalists' briefing.Admiral Sir Jonathan Band appealed for the cash - a third of the navy's annual operating budget - to spend on new ships, at a journalists' briefing.
BBC defence correspondent Paul Wood said Sir Jonathan told reporters the navy "doesn't come for nothing".BBC defence correspondent Paul Wood said Sir Jonathan told reporters the navy "doesn't come for nothing".
Last year the army's head, Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, claimed his troops were "at the limit of their capacity". Last year the Army's head, Gen Sir Richard Dannatt, claimed his troops were "at the limit of their capacity".
'Special asset''Special asset'
Paul Wood said Sir Jonathan claimed Britain faced a choice between remaining as a first division sea-going nation or, as the officer put it, turning into Belgium. Paul Wood said Sir Jonathan had claimed Britain faced a choice between remaining as a first division sea-going nation or, as the officer put it, turning into Belgium.
Give me two carriers and just less than a billion and I will be off your back, a happy boy Admiral Sir Jonathan BandGive me two carriers and just less than a billion and I will be off your back, a happy boy Admiral Sir Jonathan Band
With the government committed to an active foreign policy, the extra cash was essential to safeguard future capabilities and deliver an extra two aircraft carriers, he believed.With the government committed to an active foreign policy, the extra cash was essential to safeguard future capabilities and deliver an extra two aircraft carriers, he believed.
"The Navy is a very special asset, and if you want to use it, it doesn't come for nothing," he told the journalists. "The navy is a very special asset, and if you want to use it, it doesn't come for nothing," he told the journalists.
"We're at a scale now that requires a certain amount of investment to maintain."We're at a scale now that requires a certain amount of investment to maintain.
"You can't do deterrence unless you are a really professional outfit.""You can't do deterrence unless you are a really professional outfit."
Sir Jonathan also said that he had raised the issue privately with the prime minister and the chancellor.Sir Jonathan also said that he had raised the issue privately with the prime minister and the chancellor.
He summarised his position to journalists: "Give me two carriers and just less than a billion and I will be off your back, a happy boy".He summarised his position to journalists: "Give me two carriers and just less than a billion and I will be off your back, a happy boy".
He was not warning of an immediate collapse in the navy nor of any threat to the UK's ability to keep ships at sea.He was not warning of an immediate collapse in the navy nor of any threat to the UK's ability to keep ships at sea.
But he is not the first senior officer to make an appeal for more resources to help meet the demands made of the services.But he is not the first senior officer to make an appeal for more resources to help meet the demands made of the services.
New shipsNew ships
His remarks follow an earlier intervention from Gen Dannatt in September 2006. His remarks follow an earlier intervention from Sir Richard in September 2006.
The head of the army said his troops could only "just" cope with their commitments. The head of the Army said his troops could only "just" cope with their commitments.
During a speech in Plymouth in January, Prime Minister Tony Blair committed the forces to the fight against global terrorism and the alliance with the United States. During a speech in Plymouth in January, Prime Minister Tony Blair committed the forces to the fight against global terrorism and the alliance with the US.
The Ministry of Defence said the navy had been given 28 new ships in the past decade.The Ministry of Defence said the navy had been given 28 new ships in the past decade.
In a statement issued later through the MoD, Sir Jonathan insisted he was not criticising present funding levels but wanted to inform the debate about future funding of the armed forces.In a statement issued later through the MoD, Sir Jonathan insisted he was not criticising present funding levels but wanted to inform the debate about future funding of the armed forces.
"As the prime minister has said, if we as a nation are to extend what our Armed Forces can do, the public needs to feel comfortable with the economic choices needed to make that happen," he said."As the prime minister has said, if we as a nation are to extend what our Armed Forces can do, the public needs to feel comfortable with the economic choices needed to make that happen," he said.