Plymouth Herald commented Defence secretary's ?2,000 military flight is branded a...

A MILITARY flight taken by Defence Secretary Philip Hammond on an official visit to Plymouth cost ?2,000.

Critics have branded the price tag for the helicopter ride a waste of taxpayers' cash and an 'affront' to service personnel threatened with redundancy.

But supporters argue the Secretary of State had travelled to Plymouth in March to announce Devonport had secured a ?350 million contract to refit and refuel the nuclear missile submarine HMS Vengeance, safeguarding 1,300 city jobs.

Mr Hammond, who had to be back in London that afternoon for defence questions in the Commons, said the commitment to renew the submarine-based nuclear deterrent would guarantee work at the dockyard for decades to come.

Alison Seabeck, Labour MP for Plymouth Moor View and Shadow Defence Minister, had tabled parliamentary questions about the trip on March 26 including the use of military assets and the cost to the taxpayer.

Ms Seabeck claims it was not a new announcement and Mr Hammond could have travelled another day using public transport.

But Conservative MP for Plymouth Sutton and Devonport Oliver Colvile said: "It was a very important announcement. It secures work in the dockyard for the next 50 or 60 years.

Tory MP for South West Devon Gary Streeter added: "It's of great value to Plymouth and we would be very foolish to shoot the messenger of good news."

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