CNS issues a clarification
In a statement issued on 16 February 2007 Admiral Band, who is professional head of the Royal Navy, explained:
"I do not think, and have not said, that the Royal Navy needs a £1bn-a-year extra to do its job or to keep ships at sea. Today’s Royal Navy is funded to do what is asked of it – not least thanks to a current investment programme of £14bn, and the delivery of 28 new ships in the last decade alone.
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.
"I welcome the way the Prime Minister has started this debate, as I welcome the Government’s commitment to the new aircraft carriers, and my comments today have been aimed at informing this public debate about the long-term funding of our Armed Forces, nothing more.”
But from the BBC:
He summarised his position to journalists by saying: "Give me two carriers and just less than a billion and I will be off your back, a happy boy."
I suppose he could have meant a billion rivets.
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Now I'm really confused.
The MOD Oracle is now claiming that yesterday CNS said the following:
What I want is an additional £1bn for running repairs, fuel, better pay and accommodation.
Looks like he's backtracking really fast!