MSPs have debated the Scottish Government’s defence funding policy amid criticism of its refusal to support submarine construction projects, with concerns raised over missed economic opportunities and growing geopolitical risks.
Murdo Fraser MSP (Con) opened the debate on 18 June by celebrating Scotland’s defence industry as a “vital industry for Scotland”. He pointed to Ministry of Defence spending of almost £2.1 billion per year in Scotland, describing it as “more per head of population than in the rest of the UK.”
Fraser noted that the aerospace, defence and security sector contributed £3.2 billion to Scotland’s economy in 2022, supporting 35,000 jobs, including 1,500 apprentices. He listed key sites across the country, from BAE Systems on the Clyde to Raytheon in Glenrothes and Leonardo in Edinburgh.
He criticised the Scottish Government’s decision not to fund a proposed £11 million Rolls-Royce submarine welding facility in Glasgow, saying: “That project had been in development for years… The project did not involve weapons or munitions; it was simply the building of submarines.” He called the SNP’s opposition to defence-linked projects “naive and immature.”
Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, responding for the Government, acknowledged the strategic importance of the sector: “Scotland’s defence sector is of strategic importance to our economy, our communities and our shared security.”
Forbes said the Scottish Government had invested more than £90 million in aerospace, defence, marine and space sectors since 2006 and supported the development of skills through programmes like the £185 million apprenticeship fund. “We are investing in that future pipeline,” she said, “including STEM education and infrastructure partnerships with industry.”
She reiterated the Government’s long-standing position that devolved public funds should not directly support munitions manufacturing. “Scottish Enterprise reviewed the [Rolls-Royce] opportunity… and concluded that it was not consistent with the policy,” Forbes said.
Labour’s Daniel Johnson said that distinction was flawed: “It is also incorrect, at a time of acute and heightened global and geopolitical risk, to say that we should be divesting and diversifying away from defence industries and expenditure.”
He added: “Support of Ukraine and, presumably, defence of this country will require the manufacturing of munitions… To make that distinction is, therefore, to make a very false and, in fact, dangerous distinction.”
Forbes countered that the Scottish Government had supported diversification within defence-linked firms such as Leonardo, Raytheon and Walker Precision Engineering and backed wider STEM programmes reaching more than 120,000 pupils. She added: “Defence is a reserved matter… our support focuses on high-skilled, sustainable jobs and innovation across the defence sector.”
Jackson Carlaw MSP (Con) praised Fraser’s remarks and was sharply critical of the Scottish Greens’ influence, pointing to what he described as contradictions in the Government’s stance: “We need to defend ourselves, but [they are] not in favour of giving our armed forces anything to defend themselves with.”
Carlaw alluded to a previous incident during Apprenticeship Week, where “Ross Greer [MSP] was on a megaphone outside this Parliament condemning [defence apprentices] and egging on those who were pushing, shoving and spitting at them.” He questioned the Government’s association with the Greens, noting their repeated criticism of Britain’s defence policy and figures such as Winston Churchill.
Green MSP Lorna Slater interjected, asking: “Is the member trying to suggest that Winston Churchill did not commit war crimes?” Carlaw replied: “I think that that stands as a helpful example of why the Scottish Government should think twice about any association with the Scottish Greens.”
The debate ended with calls from Conservative and Labour MSPs for greater support for Scotland’s defence industrial base, while the Government reaffirmed its focus on skills and innovation rather than munitions-linked funding.
Scottish Government had invested more than £90 million in aerospace, defence, marine and space sectors since 2006.
The Scottish Parliament’s Budget for 2025/26 has been set at £63.4 billion. In one year. So £90m over the last 20 years doesn’t seem huge to me. I’d have thought they’d spent more than that on Ferguson Marine alone during the same period.
As I said earlier, if you get the Scottish government involved, it will turn to dog crap.
I am sure the SMP would rather put funds into whisky production…