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| Kinloss rescue co-ordination centre closure announced | Kinloss rescue co-ordination centre closure announced |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The search and rescue co-ordination centre at Kinloss in Moray is to close, the Ministry of Defence has announced. | The search and rescue co-ordination centre at Kinloss in Moray is to close, the Ministry of Defence has announced. |
| A total of 27 RAF posts and 10 civilian posts are said to be affected by the relocation to the National Maritime Operations Centre at Fareham. | A total of 27 RAF posts and 10 civilian posts are said to be affected by the relocation to the National Maritime Operations Centre at Fareham. |
| The Kinloss centre co-ordinates RAF, Royal Navy and Coastguard search and rescue helicopters, as well as the RAF mountain rescue service. | The Kinloss centre co-ordinates RAF, Royal Navy and Coastguard search and rescue helicopters, as well as the RAF mountain rescue service. |
| SNP Moray MP Angus Robertson described the news as ''devastating". | SNP Moray MP Angus Robertson described the news as ''devastating". |
| He said it was "the latest in a series of disproportionate MoD cuts to defence bases, capabilities and personnel". | He said it was "the latest in a series of disproportionate MoD cuts to defence bases, capabilities and personnel". |
| The MoD said there would be no compulsory military redundancies as a result of the closure, and personnel would be assigned to other duties across the UK. | The MoD said there would be no compulsory military redundancies as a result of the closure, and personnel would be assigned to other duties across the UK. |
| 'Better service' | 'Better service' |
| It said the move to Fareham, between Southampton and Portsmouth on the south coast of England, would improve the UK's search and rescue services. | It said the move to Fareham, between Southampton and Portsmouth on the south coast of England, would improve the UK's search and rescue services. |
| A UK government spokesman said: "The relocation of the aeronautical rescue co-ordination centre (ARCC) to the National Maritime Operations Centre at Fareham will combine the aeronautical and maritime rescue co-ordination functions, resulting in a better service for those in distress. | A UK government spokesman said: "The relocation of the aeronautical rescue co-ordination centre (ARCC) to the National Maritime Operations Centre at Fareham will combine the aeronautical and maritime rescue co-ordination functions, resulting in a better service for those in distress. |
| "The new UK search and rescue service will use brand-new, faster helicopters to cut average response times and provide a more reliable overall service." | "The new UK search and rescue service will use brand-new, faster helicopters to cut average response times and provide a more reliable overall service." |
| The spokesman insisted that the "defence commitment to Scotland is clear". | The spokesman insisted that the "defence commitment to Scotland is clear". |
| He added: "By 2020, Scotland will be home to one of three Royal Navy main bases - including all its submarines - one of the British Army's seven Adaptable Force Brigades, and one of three Royal Air Force fast jet main operating bases. | He added: "By 2020, Scotland will be home to one of three Royal Navy main bases - including all its submarines - one of the British Army's seven Adaptable Force Brigades, and one of three Royal Air Force fast jet main operating bases. |
| "Just last week the defence secretary visited the new aircraft carriers being built in Rosyth. While there, he confirmed that the Type 26 frigates will be built on the Clyde - maintaining thousands of jobs in Scotland." | "Just last week the defence secretary visited the new aircraft carriers being built in Rosyth. While there, he confirmed that the Type 26 frigates will be built on the Clyde - maintaining thousands of jobs in Scotland." |
| 'Cynical approach' | 'Cynical approach' |
| However, Mr Robertson, the SNP's defence spokesman, said: "Two out three Scottish airbases have been cut, the entire maritime patrol fleet has been scrapped and we have the lowest military personnel numbers in Scotland in living memory. | However, Mr Robertson, the SNP's defence spokesman, said: "Two out three Scottish airbases have been cut, the entire maritime patrol fleet has been scrapped and we have the lowest military personnel numbers in Scotland in living memory. |
| "That the closure announcement is happening in the middle of a life-threatening storm and comes only weeks after the independence referendum tells you much about the cynical approach of the MoD and the UK government." | "That the closure announcement is happening in the middle of a life-threatening storm and comes only weeks after the independence referendum tells you much about the cynical approach of the MoD and the UK government." |
| Gemma Doyle, Labour's Shadow Defence Minister, said the closure was the "wrong choice for the search and rescue centre and the wrong choice for Kinloss". | |
| She added: "There is a real risk of the expertise being lost to search and rescue services. It is also very disappointing for the individuals involved. | She added: "There is a real risk of the expertise being lost to search and rescue services. It is also very disappointing for the individuals involved. |
| "However, hundreds of soldiers and their families are being transferred to Kinloss, turning it into one of the biggest army bases in Scotland. This will be a huge boost to the local and regional economy." | "However, hundreds of soldiers and their families are being transferred to Kinloss, turning it into one of the biggest army bases in Scotland. This will be a huge boost to the local and regional economy." |
| Fishing leaders said they would seek assurances about the quality of future rescue services. | Fishing leaders said they would seek assurances about the quality of future rescue services. |
| Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF), said the industry would want to be sure that there would be no "break" in service. | Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF), said the industry would want to be sure that there would be no "break" in service. |
| But he added: "Location is a secondary issue to the quality of communications." | But he added: "Location is a secondary issue to the quality of communications." |
| RAF Kinloss closed as an air force base in 2012, and became the Kinloss Barracks. | RAF Kinloss closed as an air force base in 2012, and became the Kinloss Barracks. |