By Bill Heaney
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Defence Secretary John Healey, pictured right aboard a nuclear submarine, promised to improve national security, attract significant investment for defence and provide an employment boost for local communities.
The review and the £15 billion cash that goes with it has received a warm welcome from Dumbarton constituency MSP Jackie Baillie, who is the deputy leader of the Scottish Labour Party.
UK Labour has pledged to increase defence spending, including delivery of up to 12 new submarines and investment in forces housing, alongside funding to secure skills which will support the industry.
The Strategic Defence Review has been carried out by experts, including Lord George Robertson, former NATO General Secretary and Labour MPs, who have made a string of recommendations.
She said: “I applaud the UK Labour Government’s decision to make this commitment to defence spending, which not only helps keep the nation more secure, but will provide a significant boost for communities in my constituency.
“It is brilliant news for many of those families and service personnel housed by the Ministry of Defence in Helensburgh and Lomond, who will now have accommodation fit for the commitment they provide in serving the nation.
“However, make no mistake, this announcement has reach far beyond the Service community in terms of safeguarding and creating jobs and investment in the area and boosting the local economy, which relies significantly on Faslane and Coulport.
“I am absolutely delighted that investment will be delivered by a Labour government, in recognition of the value of the defence industry and our Service personnel.”
The money will be used to improve the condition of the crumbling defence housing portfolio in those and other Service communities.
A host of recommendations made by the House of Commons Defence Committee on the urgent need to improve the defence housing estate, made in March, were accepted by the UK Government.
MPs said that decades of under-investment and lack of maintenance had come “home to roost”.
But now the Labour UK Government has thrown its weight behind upgrading the Service estate to provide homes “fit for heroes”, which will meet modern standards.
The announcement comes as part of a £7 billion defence spend during the term of this UK Parliament.
News of the funding was delivered as part of the Strategic Defence Review, which renews the UK Government’s commitment to Service personnel.
In addition, the Prime Minister is expected to announce the delivery of up to 12 new nuclear-powered submarines, in a pact with Australia and the US.
The UK’s nuclear deterrent submarines are based at Faslane, supporting thousands of civilian jobs in the area, linked to the defence industry.
It comes on the back of a £15 billion investment set out for the UK’s nuclear warhead programme.
Defence Secretary Healey has also pledged to fund a specialist welding skills centre for the Clyde, if the Scottish Government continues to withhold funding.
He accused the Holyrood administration of “student union politics” over the policy of refusing to provide public funding for munitions-related projects.
The centre will provide training for welding specialities, which will also support defence and maritime projects.
Defence contractor Rolls Royce and the Malin Group had hoped to deliver the centre but were refused £2.5million of Scottish Enterprise funding.
However, the UK Labour Government has guaranteed that it will step in if the Scottish Government does not provide the necessary funding.
The Defence Secretary has said the massive investment, which has seen Rolls Royce offer technology worth £11m, would provide “good, skilled jobs for working class kids”.
The package has renewed the UK Labour Government’s commitment to increased defence spending, in the face of growing threats from nations including Russia.