‘ Navy would be used to support shipbuilding’

THE navy in an independent Scotland would help to support shipbuilding in t he c ount r y , Nic ola Sturgeon has said. The First Minister was speaking after the UK Government announced plans to build five Type 26 frigates, at a cost of £ 4.2bn, in Scotland as a result of a contract with BAE Systems.

Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross lauded the announcement, but questioned if an independent Scotland would be able to offer such support to the industry.

Ross claimed investment in the industry on that scale would not be possible if Scotland left the UK.

Quoting economist Professor Keith Hartley, Ross said: “I don’t see a future for a Scottish warship building industry in an independent Scotland.”

But the FM said: “An independent Scotland, like independent countries all over the world – as a full member of Nato – would have naval capabilities of its own.

“Capabilities that can and would be served and improved upon by our world- class shipbuilding industry and expertise. The difference between me and Douglas Ross is I have confidence in our industry in all circumstances – he clearly doesn’t.”

Sturgeon welcomed the announcement that the ships will be built in Scotland, but said it fell short of the commitment to build 13 Type 26s north of the border that was made at Westminster in 2010.

Ross also tried to draw comparisons between the shipbuilding of the UK Government and the delayed and over- budget ferries being built at the nationalised Ferguson Marine shipyard in Port Glasgow.

Responding, the FM said the UK Government had previously announced the first of the Type 26s would be in service by 2020 – a date which has since been pushed back to October 2028 – while also noting a further £ 230m increase in the cost of the project.

“Perhaps Douglas Ross should turn some of these questions to his colleagues south of the border if he wants to come here and make a big issue of these things in this chamber,” she said.