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Faslane base gets £500m contracts 'to secure 6,700 jobs' Faslane base gets £500m contracts 'to secure 6,700 jobs'
(about 3 hours later)
Chancellor George Osborne has announced more than £500m of contracts for the Royal Navy's submarine base at Faslane.Chancellor George Osborne has announced more than £500m of contracts for the Royal Navy's submarine base at Faslane.
The government said the work, which is due to begin in 2017, would secure 6,700 jobs and create thousands more.The government said the work, which is due to begin in 2017, would secure 6,700 jobs and create thousands more.
Mr Osborne said: "Across Scotland, around 12,600 people work in defence and my defence spending commitments will secure these jobs."Mr Osborne said: "Across Scotland, around 12,600 people work in defence and my defence spending commitments will secure these jobs."
The SNP said the "so-called investment" would directly support the deployment of Trident nuclear submarines.The SNP said the "so-called investment" would directly support the deployment of Trident nuclear submarines.
The new contracts will include the building of ship lifts, sea walls, jetties and other major projects over the next 10 years.The new contracts will include the building of ship lifts, sea walls, jetties and other major projects over the next 10 years.
The announcement followed the chancellor's pledge in the summer Budget to maintain the Nato commitment to spending at least 2% of GDP annually on defence.The announcement followed the chancellor's pledge in the summer Budget to maintain the Nato commitment to spending at least 2% of GDP annually on defence.
Faslane on the Clyde is home to the Navy's fleet of Trident nuclear submarines and is the largest military establishment in Scotland.Faslane on the Clyde is home to the Navy's fleet of Trident nuclear submarines and is the largest military establishment in Scotland.
Alongside Portsmouth and Devonport, it is one of three major naval hubs.Alongside Portsmouth and Devonport, it is one of three major naval hubs.
'Centre of operations' ANALYSIS
By Glenn Campbell, BBC Scotland political correspondent
This investment was unlocked by the "no" vote in the independence referendum.
In that campaign, the UK government said Faslane would become home to all Royal Navy submarines.
George Osborne is recommitting to that vision by promising a £500m upgrade over ten years from 2017.
He says it will secure 6,700 jobs and create many more.
But the SNP say he is also pre-empting a vote in Parliament on renewing the Trident submarines that carry Britain's nuclear weapons.
In the referendum, the Scottish government promised to remove the nuclear fleet from Scotland.
SNP ministers said they'd turn Faslane into a conventional naval base and the headquarters of all the armed forces of an independent Scotland.
They argued that would ensure Faslane remained a major employer. But they didn't get the "yes" vote to activate their alternative vision.
From 2020, Faslane will be the Royal Navy's "Submarine Centre of Specialisation" which means all of the UK's underwater capability will be based in Scotland.From 2020, Faslane will be the Royal Navy's "Submarine Centre of Specialisation" which means all of the UK's underwater capability will be based in Scotland.
The Ministry of Defence also expect to base Successor class submarines at Faslane when they come into service from 2028.The Ministry of Defence also expect to base Successor class submarines at Faslane when they come into service from 2028.
The base currently hosts about 6,700 military and civilian staff and contractors, but that figure is expected to increase to about 8,200 by 2022.The base currently hosts about 6,700 military and civilian staff and contractors, but that figure is expected to increase to about 8,200 by 2022.
The chancellor, who will be at Faslane on Monday, said: "Today's announcement of more than £500m demonstrates the UK government's commitment to investing in the infrastructure and capability to ensure that Faslane remains the centre of UK submarine operations for the next generation. The chancellor, who was at Faslane on Monday, told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "This is a huge investment in jobs, it will secure the 6,5000 jobs already here and actually increase the number of jobs to around 8,000 - a massive boost for Scotland and the UK's defence."
"There will be thousands more jobs right here in Faslane, as well as across the UK supply chain. Across Scotland, around 12,600 people work in defence and my defence spending commitments will secure these jobs and provide huge opportunities for defence, security and technology companies all over the UK." He added: "In an uncertain world are we really content to throw away Britain's ultimate insurance policy? These new Trident subs when they come are going to be with us for decades."
Writing in the Sun newspaper, Mr Osborne said the political consensus that Britain needed a nuclear deterrent "risks being shattered again by an unholy alliance of Labour's left-wing insurgents and the Scottish nationalists".Writing in the Sun newspaper, Mr Osborne said the political consensus that Britain needed a nuclear deterrent "risks being shattered again by an unholy alliance of Labour's left-wing insurgents and the Scottish nationalists".
"Some have been tempted to treat the Labour leadership contest as a bit of a joke. On the contrary, I think we should take it deadly seriously," he said."Some have been tempted to treat the Labour leadership contest as a bit of a joke. On the contrary, I think we should take it deadly seriously," he said.
"For the new unilateralists of British politics are a threat to our future national security. In a world that's getting more dangerous it would be disastrous for Britain to throw away the ultimate insurance policy that keeps us free and safe.""For the new unilateralists of British politics are a threat to our future national security. In a world that's getting more dangerous it would be disastrous for Britain to throw away the ultimate insurance policy that keeps us free and safe."
The SNP said investment in Faslane was welcome, but it must be as a conventional base "and not more money spent on weapons of mass destruction".The SNP said investment in Faslane was welcome, but it must be as a conventional base "and not more money spent on weapons of mass destruction".
A spokesman said: "At a time when Scotland's conventional defence footprint has never been smaller with major capability gaps, base closures and personnel numbers at an all-time low, it seems the Treasury apparently has a limitless pot to keep an unwanted and obscene arsenal of nuclear weapons afloat."A spokesman said: "At a time when Scotland's conventional defence footprint has never been smaller with major capability gaps, base closures and personnel numbers at an all-time low, it seems the Treasury apparently has a limitless pot to keep an unwanted and obscene arsenal of nuclear weapons afloat."