Two new aircraft carriers for Forces

Des Browne, Secretary of State for Defence, has today announced that the Ministry of Defence has given industry the go-ahead to form a joint venture to build the two new super aircraft carriers.

The two aircraft carriers will provide our front line forces with the modern, world-class capabilities they will need over the coming decades. They will support peace-keeping and conflict prevention as well as our strategic operational priorities

The future carriers will provide an important military capability and will sustain many jobs - around 10,000 at the peak of production.

The carriers, to be named HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH and HMS PRINCE OF WALES, will be the biggest and most powerful surface warships ever constructed in the UK. Once they enter service in 2014 and 2016 respectively they are expected to remain in the fleet for up to fifty years.

The joint venture formed by BAE Systems and VT Group will be a key member of the Aircraft Carrier Alliance of companies which will construct and assemble the new carriers at shipyards across the whole of the UK, in Portsmouth, Barrow-in-Furness, Glasgow and Rosyth.

Today's announcement builds on Labour's record of supporting our Armed Forces. We agreed one of the highest pay rises in the public sector for all servicemen and women following on from last year's 9 per cent pay rise for the lowest paid private soldiers. For those on operation abroad we have introduced a tax-free monthly bonus of almost £400 and have extended council tax relief.

Over the next ten years the Labour Government will invest over £8 billion on improving our armed forces' accommodation. This will lead to a further upgrade in accommodation after years of neglect under previous Tory governments.