THE Navy with which Britannia once ruled the waves is unable to put to sea because it cannot afford the fuel.

It is also facing new cuts that threaten the mothballing or sale of one aircraft carrier and the tying up of more than a score of other vessels.

So we can understand the need for economy among our armed forces.

But, much as I think it is time our farmers have to compete in the real world of food markets without crying for subsidies every time the going gets tough, has it not come to a pretty pitch when our soldiers, sailors and airmen are being fed cut-price French chicken and lamb as part of the penny-pinching?

We are told that, in the case of lamb in particular - when our farmers are getting just coppers for theirs - it is due to the government contract with food suppliers having been agreed when foreign meat was cheaper than our own.

But, surely, the Ministry of Defence needs a rapid reaction force when it comes to Our Boys' grub.

Could its officials not draw up a contract stipulating that British meat must be supplied when it is the cheapest?

After all, it is neither fair nor economic to buy dearer foreign food when our own costs less.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.