It has been a huge honour to be appointed as a Defence Minister. One of the many things that broadly unites us across the country and across the political divide is a pride in our armed forces and what they achieve both in times of peace and war. Our objective in maintaining them and close alliances is to deter war and force those too ready to take up arms to think again.
In this context our two new aircraft carriers (which will be the first fixed wing aircraft carriers to be operational with the Royal Navy since the 1970s) provide huge capability. They can project positive influence around the globe and be an extremely effective platform to provide humanitarian support if called upon. They are also a triumph of British engineering of which the whole country can be proud.
Last week, I visited HMS Prince of Wales, one of our new aircraft carriers, which along with HMS Queen Elizabeth, is one of the most powerful surface ships ever built on these shores. It is armed with the next generation of F35 stealth jets and is a colossal vessel – a mobile nine acres of our sovereign capability. The carrier is taller than the Niagara Falls, with a flight deck the size of 60 tennis courts and a hanger the same size as 12 Olympic swimming pools. It is envisaged that our two new aircraft carriers will respond to danger, anytime, anywhere for the next fifty years.
Building the vessels (and our contribution to manufacturing the F35s) has reinvigorated areas of British maritime, aeronautical and electrical engineering and helped employ thousands in highly skilled roles.
Of course while in defence we have a particular outlook, threats come in many different forms. I know that many are very understandably concerned about the spread of Coronavirus Covid-19. People are right to take sensible precautions and we should as individuals do what we can to help prevent its spread. The Government at every step is acting in accordance with expert medical advice, fully informed of events in China and Italy. Proportionate action is being taken, we can all help by taking heed of the advice being offered which will evolve as the threat changes.
Photo caption: Jeremy Quin on the flight deck of HMS Prince of Wales one of two new aircraft carriers entering service with the Royal Navy.