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Defence review: MoD to reduce number of Type 26 frigates Defence review: Unions welcome Clyde frigates confirmation
(about 1 hour later)
The UK government has confirmed it is to reduce the number of new Type 26 Global Combat Ships being built on the Clyde from 13 to eight. Shipbuilding unions have welcomed confirmation that eight of the new Type 26 Global Combat Ships are to be built on the Clyde.
Work on the new ships is due to begin at the Scotstoun and Govan shipyards next year. But the SNP said the order had been reduced from 13, which it claimed was a "betrayal" of shipyard workers.
Prime Minister David Cameron announced the reduction in the MoD's order as he unveiled the latest defence review. Prime Minister David Cameron made the announcement in the latest defence review.
He also said the estimated cost of replacing Trident had increased from £25bn to £31bn. He also said the UK would design a new class of frigate which be built in Scotland "if conditions are right".
The government said the estimated cost of replacing Trident had increased from £25bn to £31bn.
New generation
And a new fleet of nine Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft will be based at RAF Lossiemouth in Moray.And a new fleet of nine Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft will be based at RAF Lossiemouth in Moray.
The aircraft will fill a gap left by the much-criticised decision in the last defence review, in 2010, to scrap a new generation of Nimrod aircraft.The aircraft will fill a gap left by the much-criticised decision in the last defence review, in 2010, to scrap a new generation of Nimrod aircraft.
The prime minister also said the UK was to design and build a new class of "light, flexible general purpose frigates" in addition to the Type 26, which would bring the total number of frigates ordered to "at least 13". The prime minister said the defence review meant that Scotland "now has the opportunity to build more than 13 frigates" despite the reduction in the number of Type 26s, which are due to be built at BAE's Govan and Scotstoun yards on the Clyde from next year.
What is the Type 26 Global Combat Ship?What is the Type 26 Global Combat Ship?
He told the House of Commons: "These will be more affordable than the Type 26 which will allow us to buy more of them for the Royal Navy so that by the 2030s we can further increase the total number of Royal Navy frigates and destroyers." Mr Cameron said: "There will be eight of the Type 26s and at least another five of the new type of frigate, probably more, and they can be built in Scotland if the conditions are right.
Mr Cameron did not say where the additional ships were likely to be built, but the government later said that the new design would "bring the prospect of further shipbuilding work for the Clyde." "The only way these ships wouldn't be built in Scotland is if Scotland was independent and didn't have the national resources of the Royal Navy."
Ahead of the announcement, the SNP had said that any reduction in the number of frigates being built on the Clyde would be a "betrayal" of the workforce. Mr Cameron also told the House of Commons that the new class of frigates would be "more affordable than the Type 26 which will allow us to buy more of them for the Royal Navy so that by the 2030s we can further increase the total number of Royal Navy frigates and destroyers."
Ahead of the announcement, the SNP had said that any reduction in the number of Type 26 frigates being built on the Clyde would be a "betrayal" of the workforce.
Cost increasesCost increases
The party's defence spokesman at Westminster, Brendan O'Hara, told BBC Scotland: "During the referendum campaign they were absolutely clear that shipbuilding was only safe on the Clyde if we remained within the Union." The party's defence spokesman at Westminster, Brendan O'Hara, said: "There is much in this defence review that is deeply troubling and the workforce at the shipyards on the Clyde will feel betrayed by the huge cut in the number of Type 26s to be ordered.
"It will not be forgotten that the UK government promised 13 would be built - a cast iron guarantee. The UK government has today confirmed a 40% cut in that pledge."
But Trade union GMB Scotland welcomed prime minister's announcement, stating that it would secure employment.
Jim Moohan, the union's senior organiser and chair of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions said: "Once again this is great news for Clydeside, which has been rewarded for its continuing quality of work produced by the skills and experience heavily invested in by BAE Systems.
"Instead of the peaks and troughs which caused redundancies in the past, we now have continuity.
"This should be welcomed and not used for political mischief by those who have no knowledge in this area of industry and whose vision going forward was a dated Type 42 Destroyer to be the sole protection for Scottish waters in the event that the referendum question had answered Yes."
BAE Systems chief executive Ian King said the announcement "provides continuity and stability for our business."
The government also disclosed that replacing the Royal Navy's ageing fleet of submarines that carry the UK's Trident nuclear weapons could cost up to £40bn.The government also disclosed that replacing the Royal Navy's ageing fleet of submarines that carry the UK's Trident nuclear weapons could cost up to £40bn.
The Ministry of Defence now estimates that acquiring four new submarines, which are based on the Clyde, will cost £31bn over the course of the 20 year procurement programme - compared to a previous estimate of £25bn.The Ministry of Defence now estimates that acquiring four new submarines, which are based on the Clyde, will cost £31bn over the course of the 20 year procurement programme - compared to a previous estimate of £25bn.
And a further £10bn "contingency" has been set aside to meet additional unexpected cost increases, reflecting the complexity of the project, with the first submarine due to enter service in the early 2030s, the SDSR said.And a further £10bn "contingency" has been set aside to meet additional unexpected cost increases, reflecting the complexity of the project, with the first submarine due to enter service in the early 2030s, the SDSR said.
What is the Boeing P-8?What is the Boeing P-8?
The report said: "The revised cost and schedule reflect the greater understanding we now have about the detailed design of the submarines and their manufacture."The report said: "The revised cost and schedule reflect the greater understanding we now have about the detailed design of the submarines and their manufacture."
The SNP's leader at Westminster, Angus Robertson, asked the prime minister: "As we learn its replacement is ballooning and will be squeezing out defence alternatives, how expensive does Trident need to be for this government to realise that it is a super expensive vanity project that does not deter?"The SNP's leader at Westminster, Angus Robertson, asked the prime minister: "As we learn its replacement is ballooning and will be squeezing out defence alternatives, how expensive does Trident need to be for this government to realise that it is a super expensive vanity project that does not deter?"
Mr Cameron responded: "It is clearly not squeezing out other defence requirements as this document so clearly shows today."Mr Cameron responded: "It is clearly not squeezing out other defence requirements as this document so clearly shows today."
Downing Street has said that the purchase of the Boeing P-8 maritime patrol aircraft will increase protection of the UK's nuclear deterrent and its latest aircraft carriers when they come into service.Downing Street has said that the purchase of the Boeing P-8 maritime patrol aircraft will increase protection of the UK's nuclear deterrent and its latest aircraft carriers when they come into service.
The BBC's defence correspondent Jonathan Beale said RAF Lossiemouth had been chosen for the new patrol aircraft in preference to another RAF base in Lincolnshire.The BBC's defence correspondent Jonathan Beale said RAF Lossiemouth had been chosen for the new patrol aircraft in preference to another RAF base in Lincolnshire.
Speaking on the Good Morning Scotland programme, he said: "There was a debate as to whether the new maritime patrol aircraft should be based in Lincolnshire, at RAF Waddington, where a lot of the surveillance aircraft the RAF has are based, or in Scotland - and the decision has been taken that they will be based in Lossiemouth."
Upgraded versionUpgraded version
The UK's fleet of Nimrod surveillance aircraft were formerly based at RAF Kinloss in Moray.The UK's fleet of Nimrod surveillance aircraft were formerly based at RAF Kinloss in Moray.
An upgraded version of the Nimrod, the MRA4, had been due to enter service in 2012 but the plans were cancelled in the 2010 defence review.An upgraded version of the Nimrod, the MRA4, had been due to enter service in 2012 but the plans were cancelled in the 2010 defence review.
The planes, costing a total of £4bn, were later broken up and scrapped despite warnings from former defence chiefs that it would leave a hole in Britain's defence capability.The planes, costing a total of £4bn, were later broken up and scrapped despite warnings from former defence chiefs that it would leave a hole in Britain's defence capability.
The cancellation of the Nimrod led to the closure of RAF Kinloss, although the site is still used by the MoD as an Army base.The cancellation of the Nimrod led to the closure of RAF Kinloss, although the site is still used by the MoD as an Army base.
The Ministry of Defence is currently having to rely on French and Canadian aircraft during a search after a reported sighting of a Russian submarine off the Scottish coast.The Ministry of Defence is currently having to rely on French and Canadian aircraft during a search after a reported sighting of a Russian submarine off the Scottish coast.
Former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Campbell of Pittenweem said that news meant the RAF should have been able to keep its base at Leuchars, which was transferred to the Army earlier this year.
He said: "The Typhoons at Leuchars were sent to Lossiemouth and as a consequence the defence of the central belt of Scotland in my view was materially affected."
Lord Campbell said the "sensible thing" to have done would have been to base the patrol aircraft at Lossiemouth while keeping the Typhoons at Leuchars.