Scottish Government anger at MoD's Grangemouth communication snub revealed

The extent of the Government’s frustration has now been revealed through a Freedom of Information request by The National with email chains showing officials' “sincere disappointment” at the MoD’s lack of collaboration.

In the chain, Scottish Government officials claimed they were made aware of the plans through the media and raised concerns over the lack of cross-border information sharing after they were only formally confirmed to Scottish officials ahead of a public announcement by Defence Secretary John Healey.

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The frustrations came after information was incorrectly redacted in a Freedom of Information response sent to investigative outlet The Ferret. This information revealed that the MoD was quietly courting companies to set up new munition factories in the UK with parts of the Grangemouth industrial complex, the Finnart oil terminal at Loch Long, and Ardeer in Ayrshire noted as potential sites of interest.

Concerns were also raised that the plans would undermine efforts to support green technologies and production at the site of the Grangemouth refinery like the manufacturing of sustainable aviation fuel. Further concerns over a lack of consultation on what firms were to be approached were raised by the Scottish Government in the released email chains owing to its commitment to halt funding for companies supplying arms to Israel.

The MoD rejected the claim that it has failed to communicate, saying that the Scottish Government was made aware either directly or through an arm’s-length body like Scottish Enterprise. Although in another email chain a Scottish Enterprise official said they were “drawing a blank on this one” and that they had not discussed the topic with the MoD, advising that someone from the team may have done so, but it would have to have been “several months ago.”

Michelle Thomson, MSP for Falkirk East where Grangemouth is located criticised the Labour Government's lack of collaboration (Image: PA)

One Government official wrote to the MoD saying: “Whilst I acknowledge the reserved nature of Defence, the latest understanding we have between officials is that the DGDs will be developed in partnership with the MoD and UKG and the Scottish Government.

“We are of the view that Scottish Government should be involved in meaningful dialogue and at the very least, made aware of significant engagement with critical stakeholders in good time where policy ambitions intersect with ongoing SG initiatives. You will be aware that Grangemouth is a critical site for Scotland, with both the Scottish and UK Governments co-chairing oversight of the future transition of the site.

“I am concerned that the current approach to information sharing and collaboration risks stakeholder confusion and policy incoherence between both governments. I would be most grateful for your response and consideration of how we can work towards better information sharing going forward, given public commitments to work with Scottish Government and as we anticipate further public attention as the projects underpinning increased defence spending are developed.”

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The Scottish Government also asked for clarification on whether “Scotland will be mentioned” in a defence announcement the following day, receiving no response until being sent the then embargoed speech by Defence Secretary John Healey publicly announcing 16 sites for potential new factories.

The Scottish Government representative then escalated the issue to a more senior member of the MoD team, saying: “Given our frequent contact with your team and the fact that we have not received any notification to any changes to our agreed approach to work in partnership on this issue I can only express my sincere disappointment.”

Responding to the FOI, Michelle Thomson, MSP for Falkirk East where the Grangemouth facility is located, told The National: "Global events have sharpened many minds, including the MoD and the UK Government to the need for defence provisioning.

“It’s a pity that the FOI evidence shows the Scottish Government has not been fully kept up to speed by the MoD with proposals concerning Scotland. Although defence is reserved, the lack of clear communication hardly shouts partnership as was claimed by the Labour Government when it took power.

“I will always welcome jobs in my constituency, however, I will want to see that a) any site is safe given the petrochemicals also based in Grangemouth and b) that the tax rules stipulated by the UK Government are strictly adhered to.”

Further anger has been caused by the MoD failing to brief the Scottish Government on the capture of a Russian-linked tanker that was brought to the Moray Firth (Image: Peter Jolly)

First Minister John Swinney has hit out again at the UK Government and Ministry of Defence for a lack of communication after a Russian-linked tanker was seized in the North Atlantic and brought by the US Coast Guard to the Moray Firth.

He said: “I would have expected to have been briefed in advance about steps to accommodate the tanker in the Moray Firth. I’m deeply concerned that I have not been and these issues have been raised with the United Kingdom Government and we’re trying to seek information about this.

“It is not appropriate for the Scottish Government to learn about these issues through media reports. There should be advanced briefing from the United Kingdom Government and I am insisting on that.”

The Ministry of Defence declined to comment when approached by The National.