Defence Minister recognises Scotland’s UK defence role

Maritime January 29, 2018

Guto Bebb has made his first visit to Scotland as the new Minister for Defence Procurement.

The Minister met with the Secretary of State for Scotland, David Mundell, and the heads of the Royal Navy, Army and RAF in Scotland in Glasgow.

Scotland is home to more than 10,000 regular and 4,000 reserve armed forces personnel, supported by almost 4,000 MOD civilians.

Scottish industry benefits from Defence spending £1.5bn with it each year, supporting 9,750 private sector and highly skilled jobs.

The Ministry of Defence previously announced an unprecedented 20 years of work for the Clyde shipyards in 2017, safeguarding over 4,000 Scottish jobs, with the £3.7bn contract for the first three of eight submarine hunting Type 26 frigates to be built there.

Through the UK National Shipbuilding Strategy, Scottish yards on the Clyde and at Rosyth are also able to compete for the five lighter Type 31e frigates, which will come into service from 2023.

A further £1.7 billion is being invested to upgrade Scottish military bases over the next decade.

Defence Minister Guto Bebb, who took up his new role on 9 January, said: “Scotland plays as vital role at the heart of UK Defence and national security. Right now, Scots-based sailors, soldiers and air personnel are delivering Continuous at Sea Deterrence, building the capabilities of the Iraqi Security Forces, working on behalf of the United Nations and countering Daesh across the Middle East.”

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Guto Bebb Minister for Defence Procurement Scotland