MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Blair confirms defence procurement and funds for Tristars

Primer Minister Tony Blair meets the crew during his visit to HMS Albion

British Prime Minister Tony Blair dispelled fears that plans to build new carriers and destroyers for the Royal Navy and procure new transport aircraft for the RAF will not go ahead, emphasizing that “we've got the largest warship building programme for decades under way”.

Mr. Blair also admitted that "we've got to" replace the ageing RAF fleet of VC10 and Tristar transport (some of which are involved in the air bridge to the Falkland Islands) for which financing is available. "The finance is there and that package is being put together", said Tony Blair during a recent visit to HMS Albion in Davenport where he was interviewed by MOD's principal journals and discarded insistent rumours in the British press about cut backs and delays in defence procurement plans. "There will be changes in the degree to which ships are ready for operations at all points in time, but that is something for the Navy to sort out. In respect of the carriers, they are a very important aspect of our future capability. The trouble with a lot of this [speculation] is that it is based on leaks or comments, which when looked into don't turn out to be factually correct. We've got the largest warship building programme for decades under way. But the ships will change. There will be different types of ships, but that's really for the experts to decide based on the capability that we need." Mr Blair was asked about his meetings with servicemen and women during visits to Iraq and Afghanistan. What message did they give him and what was his impression of their morale and their enthusiasm for the dangerous work they face? "Their morale is extremely high, and they are committed to what they do," said the PM. But he conceded there are serious issues that preoccupy them, such as quality of equipment and accommodation back in the UK. Of these issues, he said, "We've got to sort them out, especially when the families [at home] have the added burden of knowing that their loved ones are putting themselves in real danger. But the amazing thing I find about the armed forces is just how completely up for it and resolute they are. They are a fantastic group of people." Did he see clarity of purpose among servicemen and women when he visited them in operational theatres? "I do," said Mr Blair. "After all, if you are dealing suicide bombers and those who are trying to wreck the chances of people who are trying to have a better life, then I think it's pretty clear whose side you should be on." But Tony Blair was cautious not to suggest that the pressure on servicemen and women deploying frequently to dangerous theatres will be substantially relieved any time soon. He did say that draw-down of troops from southern Iraq will be possible when Iraqis are able to take over, which he said they are now doing to some extent. "On the other hand, I think we will be deployed on these types of operations for a long time to come. The threat that we face from this type of global terrorism will not go away; not in the near future." Asked about the widely held belief that the RAF fleet of VC10 and Tristar transport planes is long past its shelf life and being worked too heavily servicing operations around the world, Mr Blair said he was aware of this, and funds will be available to replace the aircraft.