LONDON - BRITAIN'S Ministry of Defence (MoD) has ordered a crackdown on spending, The Financial Times newspaper reported on Monday.

The FT said it had seen an internal MoD memo saying 'the default position is that no business cases are to be put to the approving authorities for approval' and 'projects that have already received approval are not to incur financial commitment'.

With government finances tight as the country enters recession, Britain has had to spend big sums on so-called urgent operational requirements, mostly armoured vehicles, for its forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Also, earlier this year it gave the go-ahead for two aircraft carriers. Those are still safe, the FT said.