ADMIRAL SIR ALAN WEST DSC AND THE ROYAL NAVY

Motion Text

That this House salutes Admiral Sir Alan West on his retirement as First Sea Lord and Chief of the Naval Staff; acknowledges his physical courage in the Falklands conflict and his moral courage in speaking up for his Service while in office; endorses his concern that cutting destroyer and frigate numbers to only 25 `involves taking risk on risk' and his comment that not to allow for attrition `seems a little bit silly'; agrees with his view that the armed forces are threatened by legal encirclement; notes his assessment that now is the time to start design work on replacement submarines if the UK is to maintain the minimum deterrent; and thanks him for all he has done to ensure the defence of this country and its interests, particularly in the bicentenary year of Nelson's victory at Trafalgar.