Future of naval bases secure

[Anth]

The decision to retain Clyde, Portsmouth and Plymouth Naval Bases has been announced by the Ministry of Defence today, Wednesday 25 July 2007.

HM Naval Base Clyde
[Picture: LA(Phot) Jim Fenwick]

Des Browne, Secretary of State for Defence and Scotland, said today:

"I'm pleased to announce that Naval Bases at Clyde, Devonport and Portsmouth will lead the Royal Navy and Defence into the future with the new aircraft carriers. We are not only preserving history; we are also writing it.

"The aim of the Naval Base Review was to ensure that we have the right naval base infrastructure to meet the needs of the future Fleet. The Review has looked in great detail at the manpower, skills, infrastructure and future requirement at each naval base, and has concluded that the best option for defence – and each of the local areas – is to keep all three open.

"The conclusion follows the announcement today of an agreed budget for defence for the next three years, which includes the decision to buy the new carriers."

HM Naval Base Portsmouth
[Picture: Royal Navy]

The naval bases, currently home to most of the Royal Navy's fleet of surface ships will maintain their world class status with Portsmouth becoming the home of two new aircraft carriers, the largest warships ever to be built in the UK.

For hundreds of years the three bases have evolved to meet the changing requirements of the Royal Navy. Further work will now be carried out to determine how to optimise the performance of each of these historic bases to ensure that they continue to support the needs of the front line.

This work will take place in conjunction with the Transforming Submarine Support and Transforming Ship Support initiatives. These change programmes are designed to ensure the bases and the Royal Navy are prepared to meet the demands of the future fleet.

MoD News Link