11.01.2008, 16:40
The Ministry of Defence is examining possible delays to its £4bn contract for two new aircraft carriers as it struggles to meet Treasury demands for swingeing cuts to its budget.
The MoD had been expected to agree a manufacturing contract with the industry alliance building the Royal Navy carriers as early as next week, but that now looks likely to slip.
Officials have begun to take informal soundings about the implications of a possible delay to the ships, people close to the talks confirmed last night. Scenarios under discussion range from slipping expenditure on the programme to later years - thereby staggering the cost for the MoD - to delaying the programme by up to 18 months.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/71d54d96-bfe6-11dc-8052-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1">http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/71d54d96-bfe6 ... ck_check=1</a><!-- m -->
The MoD had been expected to agree a manufacturing contract with the industry alliance building the Royal Navy carriers as early as next week, but that now looks likely to slip.
Officials have begun to take informal soundings about the implications of a possible delay to the ships, people close to the talks confirmed last night. Scenarios under discussion range from slipping expenditure on the programme to later years - thereby staggering the cost for the MoD - to delaying the programme by up to 18 months.
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/71d54d96-bfe6-11dc-8052-0000779fd2ac.html?nclick_check=1">http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/71d54d96-bfe6 ... ck_check=1</a><!-- m -->