SCOTTISH military bases are to be upgraded in a £1.7 billion programme announced by Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon.
He said the increased infrastructure spending reinforced the MoD’s commitment to Scotland as its defence board met in Edinburgh for the first time.
However, he immediately came under attack from Scotland’s Veterans Secretary Keith Brown, who said: “The Defence Secretary’s announcement of another £1.3 billion on infrastructure for the Trident missile-carrying fleet once again underlines the folly of spending countless billions of pounds on nuclear weapons at the direct expense of investment in conventional forces.
“Today’s announcement also fails to acknowledge that Mr Fallon recently made the most severe round of cuts to defence ever imposed on Scotland. Late last year, he announced a near 20 per cent reduction in the size of the defence estate, closing historic barracks such as Fort George, Glencorse and Redford. His cuts will result in near total removal of the army from large parts of Scotland and the end the Royal Navy’s historic presence in Fife.
“Scotland makes a strong contribution to defence and there is serious opposition to these cuts, which will result in many job losses across communities. I have personally met with local authorities from the areas hit hardest by these cuts and we requested that MoD ministers meet the communities affected to discuss the matter. They refused to do so, and it is deeply disappointing that the defence secretary is still refusing to do so during his visit to Scotland today.”
Fallon said: “Our commitment to the future of defence in Scotland is underlined by increasing investment in better infrastructure for the Armed Forces, helping to keep us safe.”
But his remarks follow the November announcement that eight military sites north of the border will close in the next 15 years, cutting the defence estate by a fifth. The investment he announced includes £1.3bn for upgrades to HM Naval Base Clyde’s waterfront, engineering support, accommodation and security in advance of the Dreadnought class of submarines arriving in Scotland from the early 2030s.
Lossiemouth is to benefit from £400 million as one of the RAF’s three fast jet bases, and Leuchars Station will be expanded to become the main hub for army activity in Scotland.
Scotland currently has 14,000 military regular and reserve personnel and 3930 MoD civilian staff.
Army bases at Fort George, Glencorse Barracks near Penicuik, and Redford Cavalry and Infantry Barracks in Edinburgh are among more than 56 sites to shut across the UK. Naval base MoD Caledonia in Rosyth, Fife, Condor Airfield, near Arbroath, Angus, Craigiehall Barracks in Edinburgh and Forthside Barracks in Stirling will also close.
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