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Scottish independence: Defence budget post-Yes to be £2.5bn, minister Brown says Scottish independence: Ministers at odds over Trident removal costs
(about 1 hour later)
Scottish minister Keith Brown tells a committee of MPs that the budget for defence in the event of a yes to independence would be £2.5bn per year. UK and Scottish ministers have disagreed over who would pay for the removal of Trident nuclear weapons from the Clyde in the event of independence.
The SNP politician revealed the figure in evidence to the House of Commons Defence Select Committee. Holyrood's Keith Brown told the House of Commons Defence Select Committee that a post-Yes Scotland "would not bear the costs" of its relocation.
Electors in Scotland will vote in an independence referendum on 18 September, 2014. But UK Defence Secretary Philip Hammond, giving evidence to the same committee, contradicted that position.
Scots will vote in an independence referendum on 18 September, 2014.
They will be asked the simple yes/no question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"They will be asked the simple yes/no question: "Should Scotland be an independent country?"
The Veterans' Minister urged UK ministers to enter into discussions now on defence matter. However, he said that would not be the equivalent of pre-independence negotiations. Mr Brown was the first to give evidence to MPs at Westminster.
Mr Brown told the committee that after independence there would be "early, safe removal" of Trident from its current base at Faslane on the Clyde. He said that if the SNP was to win the election in a newly independent Scotland it would move "quickly, but safely" to remove Trident from Faslane.
In a BBC Scotland news webcast this week, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said it might take up to two years before Scotland could be rid of the nuclear weapons. The politician conceded that it was the Ministry of Defence, and not a Scottish defence force, which would have the expertise to relocate the weapons.
She made clear in the interview that removing Trident from Scotland was a matter of principle for the SNP. He added that an SNP government would negotiate with the MoD to help with the removal of Trident, but it would not bear the costs.
Mr Brown informed the committee that a newly-independent Scotland would want a proportionate slice of the £92bn in defence assets which the UK has. When Mr Hammond appeared before the committee after Mr Brown he said that the decommissioning process at Faslane would be a matter of negotiation between a newly independent Scotland and the rest of the UK.
He mentioned that some commentators had identified that Trident itself was an asset. But he added that the costs would be a "factor in the overall calculation in the settlement between the parties in that negotiation".
The UK defence secretary also told the committee that he believed because of the complexities surrounding Trident, it would take up to a decade to see it removed.
The remark contradicted that of Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon who said she hoped the nuclear weapons could be taken from the Clyde within two years.
She spoke of the timetable during a BBC news webcast hosted by Scottish political editor Brian Taylor.
Earlier in the committee's evidence session, Mr Brown said the budget for defence in the event of a yes to independence would be £2.5bn per year.
The Veterans' Minister urged UK ministers to enter into discussions now on defence matters. However, he said that would not be the equivalent of pre-independence negotiations.
He also said that a newly-independent Scotland would want a proportionate slice of the £92bn in defence assets which the UK has.
Mr Brown mentioned that some commentators had identified that Trident itself was an asset.
The Holyrood minister told the MPs that a new Scottish defence force would total about 15,000 personnel.The Holyrood minister told the MPs that a new Scottish defence force would total about 15,000 personnel.
He added that an attractive offer could be made to new recruits resulting in the figure being achieved post-Yes.He added that an attractive offer could be made to new recruits resulting in the figure being achieved post-Yes.
Mr Brown was asked how close to the border a Scottish army would patrol.Mr Brown was asked how close to the border a Scottish army would patrol.
In response, he said: "We will not be amassing an army on the border - that won't be necessary."In response, he said: "We will not be amassing an army on the border - that won't be necessary."
Mr Brown was grilled about detail by Labour MP for Dunfermline and West Fife.Mr Brown was grilled about detail by Labour MP for Dunfermline and West Fife.
When asked about specific figures, Mr Brown said the information he could give was currently limited ahead of a white paper on independence which would come before the Scottish Parliament "in the autumn".When asked about specific figures, Mr Brown said the information he could give was currently limited ahead of a white paper on independence which would come before the Scottish Parliament "in the autumn".
He believed it was right that the people of Scotland should hear the details first.He believed it was right that the people of Scotland should hear the details first.