Coverage of the UK's response to Hurricane Irma continues in the media today, whilst there is also reporting on the MOD budget and the Armed Forces Covenant.
HURRICANE IRMA
There is continued coverage of the military response to Hurricane Irma. The Sun reports that HMS Ocean arrived ahead of a French helicopter carrier, and the Daily Mirror reports that Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson visited HMS Ocean to thank the crew.
On Ocean's arrival, Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said:
The sight of HMS Ocean dropping anchor in the British Overseas Territories will be welcome respite to those who have seen their islands battered by repeated hurricanes. Ocean will help support the longer-term reconstruction of the Caribbean islands which have been devastated by this unprecedented hurricane season.
The fact that this is our largest operation worldwide underlines the scale of the damage caused and the Government’s commitment to UK citizens spread across the region and in need of our support.
Read more here.
AMBASSADOR JOHNSON COMMENTS ON MOD BUDGET
In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, the newly appointed US Ambassador to the UK, Ambassador Johnson, said the UK needs to assess “whether you have the capability you need to be a powerful nation going forward”.
An MOD spokesperson said:
Our £36bn budget is rising each year and, by spending over 2% of GDP on defence, we are leading by example in NATO. As Ambassador Johnson has suggested, we work tirelessly to ensure our growing budget maintains our world-leading role and focuses on frontline priorities to help keep us safe.
ARMED FORCES COVENANT
Reporting from the London Stock Exchange, which recently signed the Armed Forces Covenant, The Times writes a piece about the Armed Forces Covenant.
An MOD spokesperson said:
We are committed to the wellbeing of our service personnel, whether serving or former, and the vast majority of those leaving transition successfully into civilian life. We recognise that a small number of veterans struggle, and that is why we work across Government and with charity partners to provide a comprehensive package of support.
This support includes: the Armed Forces Covenant; the Veteran’s Gateway; and the instigation of a cross-Government Veterans Board later this year.
You can read more about the London Stock Exchange signing the Covenant here.
On the subject, Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood said:
This signing is a significant step for the London Stock Exchange, which is set to be a strong advocate for the benefits of employing our talented Defence people in businesses across the UK.
These pledges will seek to open the door to new career pathways for veterans and provide flexibility for reservists - ensuring the Armed Forces community is not disadvantaged by their service and sacrifice for our country.
MECHANISED INFANTRY VEHICLES
The Daily Telegraph reports on the MOD's plans for the new Mechanised Infantry Vehicle (MIV).
An MOD spokesperson said:
No decision has been taken on the acquisition strategy for MIV and at this stage our approach remains competitive procurement within the supply chain wherever possible. An announcement is not expected until the end of 2017.
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