Clyde shipbuilding future backed on Glasgow yard visit

Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander has affirmed the new Prime Minister’s commitment to shipbuilding on the Clyde during a visit to BAE Systems in Glasgow, the Scotland Office stated.

Alexander met apprentices, staff and managers at the site, hearing how UK Government investment is supporting skilled employment in the city and beyond. According to the Scotland Office, Scotland sits at the heart of the UK defence industrial base, with the Defence Investment Plan, the £50 million Scottish Defence Growth Deal and a £10 billion Norwegian shipbuilding contract cited as evidence of what it terms Scotland’s defence dividend.

The visit follows the appointment of Andy Burnham as Prime Minister, who took office outside 10 Downing Street on Monday 20 July. Burnham said that keeping people safe is the first priority of any Prime Minister, adding that the government would honour its commitments on defence to international partners. He also spoke to his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Støre on the day of the visit, with both leaders agreeing that the partnership between the two countries could deliver industrial opportunities for communities at home.

Alexander was quoted as saying: “It was a pleasure to visit BAE Systems and see the incredible skills and expertise here in Glasgow. It shows exactly why Scotland is so central to our national defence and our industrial future. This is the defence dividend in action, billions of pounds of UK Government investment creating and sustaining good jobs in communities right across Scotland.”

He added: “Having been reappointed as Scottish Secretary earlier this week, I will work closely with Prime Minister Andy Burnham to drive good growth and give people back hope. Scotland’s world-class defence sector, and the skilled jobs and apprenticeships at the heart of it, will be central to that ambition.”

Sir Simon Lister, Managing Director of BAE Systems’ Naval Ships business in Glasgow, was quoted in the press release as saying: “We were delighted to welcome the Scottish Secretary to our yards. We’re proud of our people and the work they do here in Glasgow for our customers, so it was a pleasure to introduce him to some of our talented colleagues. In the last two years, we have invested heavily in our skills and infrastructure to create a world class shipyard. These investments have created opportunities to serve customers here in the UK, and abroad, and create a new history for shipbuilding here in Glasgow.”

BAE Systems operates two yards on the Clyde, at Govan and Scotstoun, where the Royal Navy’s Type 26 frigates are under construction. The company has invested in the sites over recent years, including a covered shipbuilding hall at Govan intended to allow assembly of complete ships under one roof rather than in open dry docks. Norway’s selection of the Type 26 design for its future frigate fleet extended the order book for the type, joining Australia and Canada among overseas operators of variants of the class.