Cash-strapped Government trying to flog half-built warships amid claims it can't afford to finish them
THE Government is trying to flog half-built warships amid claims it can-not afford to finish them.
Military top brass invited Norway to buy £1billion frigates HMS Belfast and Birmingham, which are midway through construction.
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Selling them would give Defence Secretary John Healey and the Treasury breathing space to find the time to pay for them, a source said.
But they added that the Navy would have to wait years to get its promised eight vessels if Norway jumped the queue.
They said: "The Royal Navy only has eight frigates, the smallest number in its history.
'It desperately needs these new Type 26 frigates as soon as possible.
'But the MoD budget is under so much pressure that selling the half-built hulls to Norway would give the Treasury breathing space to find the time to pay for them.'
It comes after the Strategic Defence Review warned the Navy needed a 'cheaper, simpler fleet'.
The MoD said Norway was 'one of the UK's most important allies'.
A Norwegian source said: 'The government of Norway is in the final phases of making a decision, but no date has been set.'
Proud Scots workers watch latest Royal Navy frigate roll out at Babcock Rosyth shipyard
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