- Defence Secretary on his first visit to Scotland tours
Babcock's Rosyth facility and Service Family Accommodation in
Edinburgh
- Visit highlights Scotland's critical role in UK defence, from
shipbuilding and skilled jobs to support for nearly 10,000
Service personnel and families stationed here
-
sees home of the
construction of the Royal Navy's Type 31 frigates, sustaining
2,500 skilled jobs across Scotland and the wider UK supply
chain, including 400 apprenticeships
On his first visit to Scotland as Defence Secretary,
Wes Streeting has today underlined the nation's vital
role in the UK's defence.
During the visit, Mr Streeting saw first-hand how UK
defence investment is supporting national security,
skilled jobs and service families,
with nearly 12,000 jobs
in Scotland supported by defence.
While in Rosyth, the Defence Secretary toured Babcock's
facility, where the Royal Navy's Type 31 frigates are being
built, meeting workers and apprentices supporting one of the UK's
major shipbuilding programmes.
The Type 31 programme sustains 2,500 skilled jobs
across Scotland and the UK supply chain, including
400 apprenticeships established through
partnerships with local colleges in Fife
and across Scotland, supporting regional economic
growth.
Defence Secretary MP said:
From the skilled workers and apprentices building the next
generation of Royal Navy warships at
Rosyth, to the service families who support our
Armed Forces every day, Scotland sits at the heart of our
national security.
It is inspiring to see proud heritage combining with
modern technology to make our country fit for the
future. That also presents huge opportunities for jobs and
reindustrialisation.
Alongside this, we are committed to delivering better
homes for the personnel and families who serve our country.
The Defence Secretary
also met Service Personnel and families in
Edinburgh, visiting homes
that have benefitted from refurbishment
works, including a roofing project at Redford Gardens
and homes undergoing full upgrades at Adams Well Estate.
The Government is undertaking a generational renewal
of Armed Forces housing, backed by £9
billion over the next decade. This will see 40,000 military
homes, 9 in 10 of the total
estate, upgraded, modernised or rebuilt.
A new Defence Housing Service has
also been established to put
forces families first, meeting new,
modern property standards and accelerating
housing delivery on surplus defence land.
Scotland is at the heart of defending Britain, with nearly
10,000 Armed Forces personnel stationed there and key
strategic bases playing an increasingly vital role in protecting
the North Atlantic from Russian aggression. Typhoon fighter jets
scramble from RAF Lossiemouth in response to potential
threats, while HMNB Clyde is home to the Royal Navy's
submarine fleet.
The visit underlines the Government's
commitment to making Defence an engine for growth,
while renewing the nation's contract with those who serve by
improving the lived experience of Armed Forces personnel and
their families.
As part of the Defence Investment Plan, the Government has
confirmed £26 billion to modernise critical naval base
infrastructure, including £15.1 billion to regenerate
HMNB Clyde with world-class facilities to increase
maintenance delivery, modern waterfront infrastructure,
training facilities and new accommodation.
Harry Holt, CEO of Babcock International Group,
said:
A capable and adaptable Royal Navy fleet is
essential to the security of the UK, NATO and our
allies around the world, and we were
delighted to welcome the Defence Secretary
here to Rosyth to see first-hand the
excellent progress being made on the Type 31 frigate programme.
The defence industry makes a vital
contribution to Scotland's economy, sustaining
thousands of skilled jobs and apprenticeships. Our
workforce and operations at Rosyth are a clear demonstration of
this, delivering sovereign capability, supporting
economic growth, and contributing to UK
reindustrialisation.
We look forward to working with the Defence Secretary
and the Ministry of Defence as they implement the Defence
Investment Plan, further strengthening our sovereign and export
capabilities and the defence of our nation.
ENDS
Notes to editors
- Babcock's Rosyth facility is home to construction
of the Royal Navy's Type 31 frigates.
- The Type 31 programme sustains 2,500 skilled jobs across
Scotland and the UK supply chain and creates 400 apprenticeships.
- Scotland plays a significant role in UK defence, including
shipbuilding, advanced manufacturing and wider defence
supply chains, with more than £2 billion spent annually with UK
industry in Scotland.
- The Government has committed to a £9 billion Defence
Housing Strategy, delivering the biggest
transformation of UK military housing in more than 50
years, with more than 40,000 Service family homes to be
modernised, refurbished or rebuilt over the next decade.
