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| Plan to build frigates on the Clyde will go ahead, says defence minister | Plan to build frigates on the Clyde will go ahead, says defence minister |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The government remains committed to building eight Royal Navy frigates on the river Clyde, the defence minister Philip Dunne has told the Commons. | The government remains committed to building eight Royal Navy frigates on the river Clyde, the defence minister Philip Dunne has told the Commons. |
| The announcement comes after unions said last week that they had been warned about hundreds of shipyard redundancies if contracts promised during the Scottish independence referendum were not followed through. | The announcement comes after unions said last week that they had been warned about hundreds of shipyard redundancies if contracts promised during the Scottish independence referendum were not followed through. |
| In response to an urgent question from the shadow defence secretary, Emily Thornberry, Dunne said nothing had changed since the plans were announced last November in a defence spending review. | In response to an urgent question from the shadow defence secretary, Emily Thornberry, Dunne said nothing had changed since the plans were announced last November in a defence spending review. |
| He added: “Let me assure the shipyard workers on the Clyde, this government remains absolutely committed to the type-26 programme and to assembling the ships on the Clyde.” | He added: “Let me assure the shipyard workers on the Clyde, this government remains absolutely committed to the type-26 programme and to assembling the ships on the Clyde.” |
| Related: Nicola Sturgeon urges PM to honour pledge on Clyde shipbuilding jobs | |
| Representatives of the joint trade unions from the Scotstoun and Govan shipyards said they were told by BAE Systems at a meeting on Friday that a “worst-case scenario” of 800 redundancies was possible if timetabling delays meant backsliding on a pledge to provide a steady stream of orders to safeguard the industry. | Representatives of the joint trade unions from the Scotstoun and Govan shipyards said they were told by BAE Systems at a meeting on Friday that a “worst-case scenario” of 800 redundancies was possible if timetabling delays meant backsliding on a pledge to provide a steady stream of orders to safeguard the industry. |
| Both Labour and the Scottish National party have accused the government of betrayal over potential job losses. The first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, called on the prime minister on Monday to give his “cast-iron commitment” to delivering the contracts on the Clyde. | Both Labour and the Scottish National party have accused the government of betrayal over potential job losses. The first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, called on the prime minister on Monday to give his “cast-iron commitment” to delivering the contracts on the Clyde. |
| Thornberry said Dunne significantly avoided giving any assurances about redundancies during his questioning in the Commons. Speaking after a lengthy and fractious series of exchanges between the minister and Labour and SNP MPs, she said: “There were some huge concerns that he did not address. He was not prepared to give assurances on jobs or redundancies, he wasn’t in a position to tell us about the time-line [of the shipbuilding] or how many boats would be built. | |
| “As I said in the House, hundreds of people in Glasgow are hanging on his every word, but the minister didn’t do much to allay their fears.” | “As I said in the House, hundreds of people in Glasgow are hanging on his every word, but the minister didn’t do much to allay their fears.” |
| Thornberry and Brendan O’Hara, the SNP’s defence spokesperson, criticised the defence secretary, Michael Fallon, for failing to answer the unions’ concerns in person. | Thornberry and Brendan O’Hara, the SNP’s defence spokesperson, criticised the defence secretary, Michael Fallon, for failing to answer the unions’ concerns in person. |
| O’Hara said: “The junior minister sent to deal with the future of Clyde shipbuilding was unable to give me any guarantees about redundancies at BAE and was less than convincing that the MoD understand how crucial it is to keep a steady flow of work to keep the skills and talents on the Clyde in full employment.” | O’Hara said: “The junior minister sent to deal with the future of Clyde shipbuilding was unable to give me any guarantees about redundancies at BAE and was less than convincing that the MoD understand how crucial it is to keep a steady flow of work to keep the skills and talents on the Clyde in full employment.” |
| He added: “Just three years ago the prime minister assured the workers at BAE that ‘Scottish defence jobs are more secure as part of the United Kingdom’.” | He added: “Just three years ago the prime minister assured the workers at BAE that ‘Scottish defence jobs are more secure as part of the United Kingdom’.” |
| During the Scottish independence referendum campaign the impact of leaving the UK on the future of shipbuilding on the Clyde was a key issue. | During the Scottish independence referendum campaign the impact of leaving the UK on the future of shipbuilding on the Clyde was a key issue. |
| While meeting trade union representatives at Govan shipyard on Monday, Sturgeon said: “A series of claims were made by the Tories and Labour during the referendum about employment at these yards and we will do everything in our power to hold the Tories to their promises.” | While meeting trade union representatives at Govan shipyard on Monday, Sturgeon said: “A series of claims were made by the Tories and Labour during the referendum about employment at these yards and we will do everything in our power to hold the Tories to their promises.” |
| Responding to the UK government’s assurance, GMB Scotland’s secretary, Gary Smith, said “The Tories gave no guarantees to the workforce on the upper Clyde. There is a gulf between the Tories and BAE in terms of the information we are getting – and one side isn’t being honest with our members.” | Responding to the UK government’s assurance, GMB Scotland’s secretary, Gary Smith, said “The Tories gave no guarantees to the workforce on the upper Clyde. There is a gulf between the Tories and BAE in terms of the information we are getting – and one side isn’t being honest with our members.” |
| In last autumn’s defence review, the government announced it would order eight frigates instead of the original 13. There are concerns that promised work on smaller offshore patrol vehicles will not be sufficient to keep the yards’ order books full and maintain the workforce. | In last autumn’s defence review, the government announced it would order eight frigates instead of the original 13. There are concerns that promised work on smaller offshore patrol vehicles will not be sufficient to keep the yards’ order books full and maintain the workforce. |
| Work on new type-26 frigates ordered by the Ministry of Defence had been expected to begin this year, but there remain concerns it could be delayed until 2017. Plans for a state-of-the-art “frigate factory” – which it had been hoped would help the yard win future export orders – also appear to have been shelved. | Work on new type-26 frigates ordered by the Ministry of Defence had been expected to begin this year, but there remain concerns it could be delayed until 2017. Plans for a state-of-the-art “frigate factory” – which it had been hoped would help the yard win future export orders – also appear to have been shelved. |
| The government is expected to publish a national shipbuilding strategy later this year, and there are fears that work promised to Scotland could be relocated to England. | The government is expected to publish a national shipbuilding strategy later this year, and there are fears that work promised to Scotland could be relocated to England. |
| Dunne said the government was working closely with BAE Systems to ensure the type-26 programme was “progressed on a sustainable and stable footing”. | Dunne said the government was working closely with BAE Systems to ensure the type-26 programme was “progressed on a sustainable and stable footing”. |
| He also promised a successor programme would sustain 6,800 military and civilian jobs in Scotland, rising to 8,200 by 2022. | He also promised a successor programme would sustain 6,800 military and civilian jobs in Scotland, rising to 8,200 by 2022. |