Scotland

Navy work lost in independent Scotland

An independent Scotland could lose deals to maintain and repair Royal Navy ships, the Government said today.

Defence Secretary Philip Hammond warned that should electors vote 'Yes' in an independence referendum planned by the Scottish National Party, dockyards north of the border could miss out on contracts to work on British warships, threatening jobs.

Mr Hammond's comments came at defence questions in the Commons after Labour MP Thomas Docherty (Dunfermline and West Fife) said: "My constituency of Rosyth does the refitting both for the current (aircraft) carriers and it is expected to do the refitting for future carriers.

"Will you confirm that if there was a separate Scotland the Ministry of Defence would have to look again at the long-term refitting options for our aircraft carriers?"

The Defence Secretary told MPs: "It is unlikely HM Forces would wish to use facilities in a fully-independent Scotland in the way they would wish to use facilities within the United Kingdom."