And tucked away later on in the same Times article
Three of the five offshore patrol vessels were ordered in 2014, with an updated order last year, because the MoD is committed to spending £230 million a year on protecting shipbuilding capability by helping BAE Systems keep shipyards in Scotland open regardless whether ships are built.
So, back to my question about why the Services, and more to the point we on the front line, have to include financial responsibility as part of our contribution to Defence when there is a rather strong whiff of politics involved in the shortage of cash in front line units.