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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Cable says scrap defence academy | Cable says scrap defence academy |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A pan-forces training academy which would create thousands of jobs in south Wales should be scrapped, the Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman has said. | A pan-forces training academy which would create thousands of jobs in south Wales should be scrapped, the Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman has said. |
| Dr Vince Cable said the £13bn to set up the St Athan project was was too costly in the current economic climate. | |
| The Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced two years ago that it was to train servicemen and women at the academy. | The Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced two years ago that it was to train servicemen and women at the academy. |
| The largest facility of its kind in the UK, it will give specialist technical training to the three armed services. | The largest facility of its kind in the UK, it will give specialist technical training to the three armed services. |
| The Ministry of Defence has estimated the academy in the Vale of Glamorgan would create 2,500 jobs on site, with a further 750 to 1,500 additional jobs in the wider economy and up to 1,500 jobs in the construction phase. | The Ministry of Defence has estimated the academy in the Vale of Glamorgan would create 2,500 jobs on site, with a further 750 to 1,500 additional jobs in the wider economy and up to 1,500 jobs in the construction phase. |
| Dr Cable has today published an economic "recovery plan" which contains proposals for cutting government spending. | Dr Cable has today published an economic "recovery plan" which contains proposals for cutting government spending. |
| The Welsh Lib Dems say Mr Cable's comments were not party policy but indicated the levels of cuts needed in the current economic climate. | The Welsh Lib Dems say Mr Cable's comments were not party policy but indicated the levels of cuts needed in the current economic climate. |
| And a disclaimer on the Lib Dems website says: "Please note: this is not official Liberal Democrat policy and examples are illustrative and represent only a first, rough attempt." | And a disclaimer on the Lib Dems website says: "Please note: this is not official Liberal Democrat policy and examples are illustrative and represent only a first, rough attempt." |
| A spokesman said that if the £13bn were not saved by scrapping the St Athan project it would have to be saved elsewhere, which would also have an impact on Wales. | A spokesman said that if the £13bn were not saved by scrapping the St Athan project it would have to be saved elsewhere, which would also have an impact on Wales. |
| 'Jewel in the crown' | |
| Welsh Secretary Peter Hain accused the Liberal Democrats of "competing with the Tories to make irresponsible cuts that will hurt the people of Wales". | |
| "This is a jewel in the crown project," he said. | |
| "It will make British forces the best trained in the world," Mr Hain added. | |
| Responding, a Conservative spokesman said: "This project has always had cross-party support and we will continue to maintain that the military should be properly trained." | |
| Over the weekend, attempts by Plaid Cymru activists to commit the party to campaigning against the academy's construction were defeated. | Over the weekend, attempts by Plaid Cymru activists to commit the party to campaigning against the academy's construction were defeated. |
| Plaid's leadership succeeded in watering down a motion on the issue at the party's autumn conference in Llandudno that would have committed Plaid to opposing the scheme. | Plaid's leadership succeeded in watering down a motion on the issue at the party's autumn conference in Llandudno that would have committed Plaid to opposing the scheme. |
| An amendment passed instead said the party "recognises the opposition within Plaid Cymru" to the project. | An amendment passed instead said the party "recognises the opposition within Plaid Cymru" to the project. |