Joined Up Government in Action – It was Harold Macmillan, the British Prime Minister (1957-1963) who was quoted (though some dispute this) to have said when asked in response to a journalist “what is most likely to blow governments off course” the classic words “Events, dear boy, events”.    Two examples of disjointed Government came on the same day in late February and both may come to haunt our maritime future :-.

·         The F-35 Fixed Wing Fighter jet being built by American Lockheed Martin company is to be the  prime weapon system of the new aircraft carriers and in October 2010, the United Kingdom decided to order the catapult launched F-35C, which will be used by both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy. The total number of F-35C aircraft to be procured will not be decided until the 2015 Strategic Defence Review however, it will be less than the originally ordered; some reports have suggested a fleet of around 50 but with the new QUEEN ELIZABETH class large enough to support (with catapults and arrestor cables installed) typically 12 F-35Cs with the ability to deploy up to 36.    To sustain 36 operational aircraft all 50 (and more) would be needed with carrier trained pilots but Britain is due to place orders for one squadron, around 20 aircraft, next year (2013) but will not settle on the final number of planes to be bought until in 2015.   Now comes news that the US military are to delay their purchase of the Joint Strike Fighter and Italy slashing its order by more than a third (131 to 90), the British bill for each of the aircraft is set to rise sharply.   The matter will e exacerbated by both Australia and Canada likely to reduce their orders.    As part of a drive to reduce America’s annual military budget, the Pentagon announced earlier this month that it was delaying purchasing 179 aircraft until after 2017, saving the US $15 billion (£10 billion) over the next five years.     Ministers are currently reviewing the “risks” and expect to make an announcement to MPs on the future of the programme before Easter.   When a F-35C fighter lands on a carrier the arrestor cable catches a hook attached to the aircraft, preventing it from overshooting and ditching into the sea.    Early trials of the model   caused major oncerns in the United States after the hook design was found to be flawed.    In January (2012), it was reported that Pentagon documents found that a design flaw in the fighter had caused eight simulated landings to fail.    Development of the fighter is being jointly funded by Britain, the US, Italy, Australia, Denmark, Norway, Turkey, Canada and the Netherlands.

·       Aid to Argentina – British taxpayers have helped to fund £452 million in aid to Argentina — despite its threat to the Falklands.  Argentina has drawn £ 452million from an international aid fund, heavily backed by Britain over the last 12 years, where we have contributed £4.66 billion.   The USA sent to London a top level delegation demanding a halt to all future support.       President Barack Obama's administration is reportedly angry that Buenos Aires refuses to pay back nearly £40 billion in loans despite having enough money stashed away in reserves.    Tory MP’s are angry, as are former Falkland veterans.     What do you get for £ 452 million – well by co-incidence the cost of the order for the next generation of support tankers for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (to be built in South Korea) for the four 200m 37,000 tonne vessels has been costed at  £452 million.