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Royal Navy

I have given answer upon answer about the Sea Harriers, which had to be upgraded so that they still have their sea legs, as it were. They needed another engine, and investment was required. People forget that a big technical issue was involved that could not be easily resolved without costs or an adverse impact elsewhere on the budget. It was a military decision. I have set out the background, and the surety that I required as a defence Minister was part of the decision-making chain and what we were doing at that point in time. We have never said that what we are doing is risk free. That is the nature of what will happen if we embark with our own fleet in certain circumstances, but we do not envisage that happening.