Defence cuts papers to be published next week

The keenly-anticipated Strategic Defence and Security Strategy will be published in two parts next week, Downing Street has announced.

Following an hour-long meeting of the National Security Council in No 10, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said the first part, setting out the strategic context, would be released on Monday.

The main spending decisions will then be announced in a statement to Parliament on Tuesday – the day before the overall Comprehensive Spending Review setting out the Government's cuts programme.

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The Prime Minister's spokesman would not comment on the discussions, which lasted around an hour, saying only that "very good progress" had been made.

Unlike the last meeting, which was attended by all the service chiefs, only the Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, was present.

One of the central issues has been the future of the Royal Navy's 5.2bn aircraft carriers.

Prohibitive cancellation fees may mean that the ships have proved too costly to axe.