18 April 2008
We received a petition asking:
"We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to SAVE THE ROYAL NAVY FROM DEFENCE CUTS."
Details of Petition:
"ALFRED the Great in 897 created the English Royal Navy. The Norman Kings set up a great naval force in 1155. Under the Tudors the fleet was revived in a great building programme. In the 19th and 20th Century the senior service saved our island races from many invasion threats. We call on the British Government to stop talking fine words about our armed forces, and put financial and political words into action to save our fleet being lost forever."
Read the Government’s response
Far from cutting the Royal Navy, the Government is committed to a major programme of investment in new warships. This includes the two new aircraft carriers which will be the largest warships ever constructed in the UK, providing our Armed Forces with the most potent carrier force outside the USA. Orders have been placed for six new Type 45 destroyers, the third of which, HMS Diamond, was launched last year. These ships represent a huge increase in capability over the Type 42 destroyers they replace, and are the largest air-defence destroyers ever built for the Royal Navy. The Navy’s submarine flotilla is also being modernised with the introduction of the new Astute-class nuclear attack submarines, of which the first four are on order. The Government has announced its intention to order a total of seven of these highly advanced submarines.
Finally, the Government has introduced into service new and highly capable amphibious assault and support ships that are far more effective than the ships they have replaced. This programme of investment will ensure that the Royal Navy will remain one of the world’s most powerful navies and will be fully capable of meeting the security challenges of the 21st century.