Lords accuse SNP of neglecting Scotland’s defence skills

Peers in the House of Lords used a debate on the UK’s new defence deal with Norway to accuse the SNP Government of neglecting shipbuilding and apprenticeships, arguing that the £10 billion Type 26 contract proves Scotland’s future lies within the United Kingdom’s defence framework.

Baroness Curran opened the exchange by describing the agreement as “a vote of confidence in the UK Labour government” and “the future of shipbuilding on the Clyde for years to come.” She contrasted the deal with what she called “the SNP government’s failure to invest in skills,” pointing out that apprenticeship funding in Scotland had “fallen by more than 30 percent in real terms.” She urged ministers in Edinburgh to “follow the lead of the UK Government and prioritise the delivery of investment, jobs and skills.”

Responding, Defence Minister Lord Lemos said the contract “provides long-term security for shipbuilding in Scotland” and praised the role of BAE Systems and Ferguson Shipyard. He agreed that “investment in apprenticeships and skills development is crucial,” adding that the SNP “don’t know what they’re missing by not being in your Lordships’ House.”

Liberal Democrat peer Lord Bruce of Bennachie joined the criticism, saying the Norwegian order “shows that they value Scotland’s defence skills rather more than the Scottish Government does.” He said the deal underlined that “Scotland’s interests lie best with being part of the United Kingdom’s defence and security pact.”

Baroness Adams of Craigielea described the contract as “emblematic of the tremendous strength of Britain in defence technology and the skill of the Clyde workforce,” noting that it was won “in the face of very stiff international competition, including France, Germany and the United States.”

Lord Lemos said the deal represented “a vote of confidence in the British defence sector and our world-leading anti-submarine capabilities.” He also spoke on the strategic partnership with Norway, calling it “one of our strongest allies since the Second World War.”

Conservative peer Baroness Goldie argued that Scotland’s defence success had come “in spite of the Scottish Government, not because of it.” She proposed creating a new Defence Industry Forum in Scotland to “showcase the excellence of what Scotland is producing for our defence capability” and to “require the Scottish Government to explain more clearly what it thinks its role is.”

Lord Lemos welcomed the idea, confirming that he would pass it to the Secretary of State and attend such a forum himself. He also pointed out that “defence directly employs 10,000 serving personnel and 4,000 civil servants in Scotland,” with “£2.1 billion in MOD spending last year, including £1.3 billion on shipbuilding and repair.”

He said £23 million of that total had gone directly to small and medium-sized enterprises, showing “our clear commitment to Scotland’s role in national defence.”