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| Naval move would 'devastate' city | Naval move would 'devastate' city |
| (about 21 hours later) | |
| Reports that the MoD is to relocate Plymouth-based naval frigates to Portsmouth would be "devastating" for Plymouth, a business expert claims. | Reports that the MoD is to relocate Plymouth-based naval frigates to Portsmouth would be "devastating" for Plymouth, a business expert claims. |
| Tim Jones, of the Devon & Cornwall Business Council, said such relocations would have dire consequences. | Tim Jones, of the Devon & Cornwall Business Council, said such relocations would have dire consequences. |
| According to a 2008 BBC report by the University of Plymouth, Devonport naval base and dockyards support 24,000 jobs. | According to a 2008 BBC report by the University of Plymouth, Devonport naval base and dockyards support 24,000 jobs. |
| City MP Linda Gilroy said she had been assured no moves of ships to different ports would be made within five years. | City MP Linda Gilroy said she had been assured no moves of ships to different ports would be made within five years. |
| In 2008, the naval base and dockyards' presence was valued at more than £850m to the local economy. | In 2008, the naval base and dockyards' presence was valued at more than £850m to the local economy. |
| Mr Jones, who chairs the business council, said: "If confirmed, the transfer of the Royal Navy's frigates to Portsmouth will be a bombshell and will have quite devastating repercussions for Plymouth and the surrounding area. | Mr Jones, who chairs the business council, said: "If confirmed, the transfer of the Royal Navy's frigates to Portsmouth will be a bombshell and will have quite devastating repercussions for Plymouth and the surrounding area. |
| Bad timing | Bad timing |
| "The news from sources within the navy and MoD comes at an appalling time because of the extent of the recession generally and the number of other job losses already experienced in Plymouth. | "The news from sources within the navy and MoD comes at an appalling time because of the extent of the recession generally and the number of other job losses already experienced in Plymouth. |
| "Both the long-term and short-term implications are massive as the Royal Navy is by far the most important employer in the Plymouth area and numerous other businesses outside the dockyards rely on the naval base. | "Both the long-term and short-term implications are massive as the Royal Navy is by far the most important employer in the Plymouth area and numerous other businesses outside the dockyards rely on the naval base. |
| Plymouth's economy is rather weaker than Portsmouth so people will find it rather difficult to to find alternative sources of employment Prof Peter Gripaios, University of Plymouth | Plymouth's economy is rather weaker than Portsmouth so people will find it rather difficult to to find alternative sources of employment Prof Peter Gripaios, University of Plymouth |
| "If the transfer of the frigates goes ahead, we are likely to experience a significant shift in terms of basic employment and core manufacturing which will be difficult to absorb." | "If the transfer of the frigates goes ahead, we are likely to experience a significant shift in terms of basic employment and core manufacturing which will be difficult to absorb." |
| MoD sources have told the BBC that the 11 Royal Navy frigates currently based at Devonport will all be transferred to Portsmouth as part of a three-year military review to cut over-capacity and costs. | MoD sources have told the BBC that the 11 Royal Navy frigates currently based at Devonport will all be transferred to Portsmouth as part of a three-year military review to cut over-capacity and costs. |
| However, Peter Gripaios, professor of applied economics at the University of Plymouth and author of last year's report for the BBC, believes the benefits of transferring the frigates to Portsmouth would be more than outweighed by the cost to Plymouth. | However, Peter Gripaios, professor of applied economics at the University of Plymouth and author of last year's report for the BBC, believes the benefits of transferring the frigates to Portsmouth would be more than outweighed by the cost to Plymouth. |
| His report, published in July, showed 9,860 military personnel were, at the time, serving on board Devonport ships or at bases in and around Plymouth. | His report, published in July, showed 9,860 military personnel were, at the time, serving on board Devonport ships or at bases in and around Plymouth. |
| Major impact | Major impact |
| It also revealed that a further 6,637 civilian MoD and dockyard staff as well as contractors were employed as a result of the Royal Navy and that its presence in the city supported an additional 7,000 jobs outside Devonport. | It also revealed that a further 6,637 civilian MoD and dockyard staff as well as contractors were employed as a result of the Royal Navy and that its presence in the city supported an additional 7,000 jobs outside Devonport. |
| The total number employed as a result of the navy's presence represented more than 11% of all full-time posts in the Plymouth travel-to-work area. | The total number employed as a result of the navy's presence represented more than 11% of all full-time posts in the Plymouth travel-to-work area. |
| The Royal Navy's links with Plymouth date back more than 300 years | The Royal Navy's links with Plymouth date back more than 300 years |
| The report stated that up to 10,000 jobs could be lost if Devonport's frigates were moved to Portsmouth. | The report stated that up to 10,000 jobs could be lost if Devonport's frigates were moved to Portsmouth. |
| Prof Gripaios said: "Plymouth's economy is rather weaker than Portsmouth's so people will find it rather difficult to find alternative sources of employment," he said. | Prof Gripaios said: "Plymouth's economy is rather weaker than Portsmouth's so people will find it rather difficult to find alternative sources of employment," he said. |
| "Portsmouth has other industries it can rely on but the Plymouth economy is based largely around the Royal Navy's presence in the city. | "Portsmouth has other industries it can rely on but the Plymouth economy is based largely around the Royal Navy's presence in the city. |
| "Therefore although the possible transfer of the navy's frigates would be a main loss in the short term, the long term question to consider is how long the Royal Navy will remain in Plymouth at all." | "Therefore although the possible transfer of the navy's frigates would be a main loss in the short term, the long term question to consider is how long the Royal Navy will remain in Plymouth at all." |
| However, Plymouth Sutton MP and House of Commons Defence Select Committee member Linda Gilroy said she had been assured that nothing had changed on assurances that the city had received earlier in 2009. | However, Plymouth Sutton MP and House of Commons Defence Select Committee member Linda Gilroy said she had been assured that nothing had changed on assurances that the city had received earlier in 2009. |
| She said: "The Devonport Strategy Group has been categorically assured by defence ministers during the course of meetings and visits earlier this year that no changes will be made to the base-porting of ships within the next five years." | She said: "The Devonport Strategy Group has been categorically assured by defence ministers during the course of meetings and visits earlier this year that no changes will be made to the base-porting of ships within the next five years." |
| She added that she had been told by Defence Minster Bob Ainsworth that no changes had been to the assurances. | She added that she had been told by Defence Minster Bob Ainsworth that no changes had been to the assurances. |
| The Royal Navy has been a part of Plymouth since the dockyard was built more than 300 years ago. | The Royal Navy has been a part of Plymouth since the dockyard was built more than 300 years ago. |