This is just for the sake of an argument.
I've been reading a few articles recently about the Wanless report on the NHS and was surprised by just how much extra we're spending on healthcare each year. For 2006/07 spending was just over £40bn higher than it was in 2000/01. Leaving aside the question of how well this has been spent, I was wondering how much of this increase would have been required to be switched to the annual defence budget to keep the top brass (and armchair generals) happy. Anybody care to estimate how much extra (over and above actual and currently predicted spending) would be needed to do the following:
Navy
Order 2 CVFs in CATOBAR fit, 8 Hawkeyes, (say) 90 F35Cs, plus 12 Merlins.
Order 12 fully kitted out (ie with MK41 VLS, TACTOMS, Harpoons and ILMS) T45s.
Order an additional LPH and two more LSD(A)s.
Maintain a 18 strong frigate force to be replaced on a one for one basis by fsc.
Start building 8 C3 type Oceanic PVs.
Start placing orders for the MARS vessels.
Order Astute boats 4 to 8.
Army
Reverse cut in infantry battalions - back to 40 battallions.
Re-open a dedicated military hospital.
Order more battlefield Helicopters (not sure of required numbers - take a guess).
Supply adequate number of MRAP type vehicles.
Order a fleet of helicopters dedicated for medevac.
Replace SA80 with G36.
RAF
Order Tranche 3 Eurofighters.
Order 60 odd F35Bs.
Order replacements for tanker fleet.
Order another 6 C17s.
Re-start FOAS programme.
Feel free to add anything I've missed off.
I appreciate that a lot of the above will be acquired over a period of time, but roughly how much of that £40bn increase in healthcare spending would be required each year? |