DEFENCE Secretary Geoff Hoon has offered reassurances over the government's commitment to the controversial £3 billion Future Aircraft Carrier project, which underpins thousands of Hampshire jobs.

In an interview with the Daily Echo, Mr Hoon warned that a drop in military spending, as proposed by opposition parties, would hit jobs in Hampshire's vast defence industry.

Defence, and its closely related advanced engineering sector, employs more than 52,000 people across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Contractors with operations in the area include giants such as VT (formerly Vosper Thornycroft), BAE, Hamble Aerostructures, Cobham, Meggitt and GKN Aerospace.

Mr Hoon said: "I think the key issue is the amount of money we have put into defence. We have made the largest increases in defence spending for 20 years and I have made a recent announcement about buying a British helicopter from Westland, which I know has subcontractors in Hampshire, which will benefit from that.

"The real question is the credibility of the opposition parties. They have said they will cut defence spending and that means cuts in jobs in places like Southampton."

The Defence Secretary confirmed that VT, now based in Portsmouth but still employing hundreds of Southampton workers, was due for a significant slice of the carrier project work.

Mr Hoon said: "I assure you that the money is there and that we are hugely committed to the project, which is hugely important not just to the Royal Navy but to Britain.

"As for where they will be constructed, obviously VT is one of the places we have already identified.

"I opened that VT facility in Portsmouth, which I know is controversial in Southampton, and I have seen the investment they have made and the jobs that depend on it.

"We have every confidence in the yard."