glojo... there does seem to be two levels of statements going on... the "official" line that (as per the statement from Lord Astor) "the cats and traps will be for one carrier"... and the "behind-the-scenes" line shown by Fox that efforts are on-going to find a way to buy and fit catapults and arresting gear in the second ship as soon as the money can be found.
Minister 'misspoke over fast-jet pledge for new carriers' - Scotsman.com News
Note the last part of the article, though...
However, Labour MPs, who have been pushing for both carriers to be brought into service to allow for continuous carrier capability in the Royal Navy, as well as boosting jobs on the Clyde and at Rosyth, claimed last night that they had received private assurances from Dr Fox outside the chamber following the statement.
Mr Davidson said that he had taken the Defence Secretary at his word in the Commons and that Dr Fox would need to clarify his statements to MPs if a mistake had been made.
He said: "As far as I can see this is excellent news for the navy and the shipbuilding industry.
"It would have been absurd to build two carriers and then leave one of them unable to launch or land fast jets.
"The government are to be congratulated for recognising the error in their previous position and for being willing to change their mind."
So, Fox is saying
more than once that "the plan" IS for both to get catapults & arresting gear, but the MOD says "not right now".
On another forum it was suggested that the bottom line is they
do want both to get cats/traps but they only have funding secured for the one so can't announce it (hence the 'that is the plan' and 'private assurance' statements)... perhaps the second set will only be purchased in time for QE's first refit.
This fits in with the "Whether to equip the other carrier with them will be a decision for the 2015 SDSR." line as well.
We will have to see which side wins out.