Commenting on an assessment by defence analyst Howard Wheeldon, a senior strategist with City firm BGC Partners, that BAE’s Scottish shipyards are well placed as the firm reviews its business, and that the Clyde yards would continue their highly skilled work with independence, SNP MSP for Glasgow Anniesland Bill Kidd said it showed that in all circumstances Scottish yards will continue to secure orders on the basis of their skills, and record of delivery.

Mr Kidd said:

“Howard Wheeldon’s assessment shows that in all circumstances Scottish yards will continue to secure orders on the basis of their formidable skills and record of delivery.

“BAE is reviewing its business because of UK cuts to defence spending as a result of the economic mess left by the last Labour government – under which at least 5,000 shipbuilding jobs were lost in Scotland.

“If shipbuilding in Scotland had the same average share of manufacturing turnover and employment across each of the four comparable nations of Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden, turnover would be £400 million higher and employment over 2,000 higher.

“Like the Scottish yards, these countries accept orders from all over the world. It is not the UK that makes the yards successful, it is the great Scottish skills base and technical expertise that brings orders to the yards – and this will continue to be the case post independence.”