NIMROD CREW SAFETY MUST COME FIRST.

NIMROD CREW SAFETY MUST COME FIRST. Responding today (Monday) to the announcement by the Ministry of Defence that delays in the programme to upgrade the Nimrod fleet will result in them being withdrawn from overseas missions, Westminster SNP leader Angus Robertson MP who represents the Nimrod home base of RAF Kinloss welcomed the decision saying: "Safety must come first and the MOD decision to exercise caution is correct. The Nimrod fleet is ageing and these technical problems underline the priority of the aircraft replacement program. The Vice Chairman of the Parliamentary RAF Group went on to say: "It is unclear why the repair work could not be completed on time. Nevertheless the safety of personnel should not be compromised. The loss of 14 servicemen aboard Nimrod XV230 showed how high the price of technical failure can be. That is why the MOD has made the correct decision in the circumstances.”