CONCERN AS MINISTER RENEGES ON DEFENCE SPENDING BREAKDOWN

CONCERN AS MINISTER RENEGES ON DEFENCE SPENDING BREAKDOWN

The MoD is under fire after reneging on a commitment to continue
producing a regional breakdown on employment and defence spending
across the UK, prompting concerns that Scotland could bear the brunt
of future military cuts.

In recent years the MOD statistics have confirmed there have been more
than 10,000 defence jobs lost and a massive £5.6 billion defence
underspend in Scotland - but the MOD has said it will stop providing
the statistics.

After giving a clear assurance that the MoD would continue providing a
regional breakdown of defence statistics during a debate, the Armed
Forces Minister has written to SNP Westminster leader and Defence
spokesperson Angus Robertson MP advising that his assurance gave a
“misleading impression” and that the government would not continue
publishing the statistics.

Mr Robertson said:

“This is an unacceptable u-turn by the Armed Forces Minister who made
a clear commitment to continue providing this information.

“At a time when Scotland has already been short-changed on defence
spending, with more than 10,000 defence job losses and a massive £5.6
billion underspend, this decision will fuel fears that Scotland will
bear the brunt of future military cuts.

“The MOD know that these statistics are damaging and their answer is
not to address the problem, but to stop producing the data – it is a
classic Whitehall white-wash.

“As the MOD embarks on its Strategic Defence and Security Review it is
crucial that we are able to track the impact of UK government policy
across the nations and regions of the UK.

“We can only continue to track the impact of government decisions in
Scotland and elsewhere if the Minister honours his original commitment
to answer the questions. The UK government must make a fair and
balanced defence footprint across the UK a priority.”