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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| RAF bases braced for defence cuts | RAF bases braced for defence cuts |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The long-term future of Scotland's three major RAF bases is expected to become clearer when a round of budget cuts is revealed. | The long-term future of Scotland's three major RAF bases is expected to become clearer when a round of budget cuts is revealed. |
| The base at Kinloss in Moray is expected to bear the brunt of reductions north of the border. | The base at Kinloss in Moray is expected to bear the brunt of reductions north of the border. |
| It is believed parts of the facility could be put in "cold storage" to save money. | It is believed parts of the facility could be put in "cold storage" to save money. |
| However, the BBC understands that Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth will keep all three Scottish bases open. | However, the BBC understands that Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth will keep all three Scottish bases open. |
| Sources have indicated that the three large RAF bases in Scotland - Leuchars, Lossiemouth and Kinloss - will all remain open. | Sources have indicated that the three large RAF bases in Scotland - Leuchars, Lossiemouth and Kinloss - will all remain open. |
| However, it is thought the Ministry of Defence (MoD) will decide to remove older Nimrod aircraft from Kinloss earlier than anticipated and delay the arrival of their replacements. | However, it is thought the Ministry of Defence (MoD) will decide to remove older Nimrod aircraft from Kinloss earlier than anticipated and delay the arrival of their replacements. |
| Gordon Brown's refusal to rule out cuts will fuel speculation and add to the intolerable uncertainty for service personnel and their families Angus RobertsonSNP defence spokesperson | Gordon Brown's refusal to rule out cuts will fuel speculation and add to the intolerable uncertainty for service personnel and their families Angus RobertsonSNP defence spokesperson |
| In effect, this would mean "mothballing" or putting parts of the base in "cold storage" and would be designed to save money on operating costs. | In effect, this would mean "mothballing" or putting parts of the base in "cold storage" and would be designed to save money on operating costs. |
| The BBC also understands the Tornado force based at RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Marham in Norfolk will lose one squadron. | The BBC also understands the Tornado force based at RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Marham in Norfolk will lose one squadron. |
| Two of the bases, Kinloss and Lossiemouth, are in Moray SNP MP Angus Robertson's constituency. | Two of the bases, Kinloss and Lossiemouth, are in Moray SNP MP Angus Robertson's constituency. |
| He tried to raise the matter in the Commons, but said: "Gordon Brown's refusal to rule out cuts will fuel speculation and add to the intolerable uncertainty for service personnel and their families. | He tried to raise the matter in the Commons, but said: "Gordon Brown's refusal to rule out cuts will fuel speculation and add to the intolerable uncertainty for service personnel and their families. |
| "At a time when our forces are already overstretched and under-resourced it would be a betrayal by this Labour government to threaten vital bases and defence programmes while squandering billions on Trident nuclear weapons renewal. | "At a time when our forces are already overstretched and under-resourced it would be a betrayal by this Labour government to threaten vital bases and defence programmes while squandering billions on Trident nuclear weapons renewal. |
| "The fact is that Gordon Brown's government is already responsible for a £4.3bn defence underspend in Scotland, and 9,500 defence jobs have been lost in Scotland since Labour came to power - that is an appalling record." | "The fact is that Gordon Brown's government is already responsible for a £4.3bn defence underspend in Scotland, and 9,500 defence jobs have been lost in Scotland since Labour came to power - that is an appalling record." |
| Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth has already announced that 22 new Chinook helicopters will be ordered over the next 10 years for operations in Afghanistan. | Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth has already announced that 22 new Chinook helicopters will be ordered over the next 10 years for operations in Afghanistan. |
| But cuts to help pay for them are expected to be revealed on Tuesday afternoon as part of a UK-wide review by the MoD, which will focus on the RAF. | But cuts to help pay for them are expected to be revealed on Tuesday afternoon as part of a UK-wide review by the MoD, which will focus on the RAF. |