WIREDGOV

The future of communities across Scotland remain uncertain following the Prime Minister's announcement that defence spending will be cut by eight per cent, First Minister Alex Salmond said yesterday.

The socio-economic impact of the UK Government's Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) will be wide reaching, Mr Salmond warned.

Commenting on the Prime Minister's announcement, Mr Salmond expressed "extreme disappointment" on the closure of Kinloss as an RAF base, following the cancellation of the Nimrod contract, and uncertainty regarding the future of RAF Lossiemouth as well as Kinloss.

Mr Salmond welcomed news that the 5 billion pounds Carrier Project will continue, protecting more than 5,500 jobs both directly and indirectly, but he also called for confirmation on how changes to the carriers design and the number of frigates will affect the refurbishment programmes due to be carried out on the Clyde.

Mr Salmond said that Scottish Ministers will seek the meeting with the UK Defence Secretary Liam Fox following the publication of the Review that was promised when the Scottish party leaders met with Mr Fox earlier this month, and will press the UK Government to honour their pledge to engage fully with communities before final decisions are made.

The First Minister said:

"Throughout the review process, the Scottish Government have made the compelling case for Scottish defence jobs and skills - including the carriers contracts, the RAF bases, and army footprint across Scotland.

"RAF Kinloss and Lossiemouth make an enormous contribution to the local economy, and closure would be the equivalent to 700,000 job losses in Greater London area, which would be utterly unacceptable. It could not possibly be justified, at the same time as the Prime Minister reiterates support for an unnecessary and unwanted Trident replacement.

"We welcome the news to continue the Carrier project, though questions on the refurbishment programme remain.

"We will certainly be seeking the meeting with the Defence Secretary that he promised when the Joint Campaign met with him earlier this month, because we need absolute clarity on what the UK Government are actually proposing. And we will press the UK Government to honour their pledge to engage fully with communities before final decisions are made, as we step-up our campaign to protect Scotland's defence industry."

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