KATE Forbes has welcomed the UK Government’s new military industrial strategy which promises major state investment in weapons companies.
The Deputy First Minister said the announcement of Labour’s Defence Industrial Strategy, which will give Scotland a share in a new £250 million fund, would support job creation and drive economic growth.
John Swinney (below) announced last week that he would lift a long-standing ban on state support for weapons manufacture, which has come under intense scrutiny during the genocide in Gaza.
The Scottish Government’s embargo on directly funding weapons has been overturned, though new rules have been introduced to prevent funding for companies profiting from involvement with countries where there is “plausible evidence of genocide being committed by that country”, such as Israel.
Scottish Enterprise previously did fund weapons companies, though not the manufacture of munitions, and ministers previously said that financial support was for apprenticeships and training with arms companies.
Responding to the UK Defence Industrial Strategy, Forbes said: “The defence sector is not only fundamental to our national security, but also a strategic driver of Scotland’s workforce, supporting high-quality jobs and playing a vital role in driving economic growth across our nation.
“We welcome the publication of the Defence Industrial Strategy, in particular the commitment to Defence Growth Deals and any proposed plans for Scotland, including investment in skills.
“The Scottish Government will engage with the UK Government on the opportunities for Scotland’s defence sector to benefit from the actions set out in the strategy.”
The strategy will create “growth deals” throughout the UK, each of which will benefit from the £250m fund.
It is part of Labour’s wider pitch that investing in the weapons industry will boost economic growth, after Donald Trump (below) forced European leaders to hike defence spending.
Figures highlighted by the UK Government showed that more than 11,000 people were employed due to Ministry of Defence spending in Scotland.
The UK Government has said the focus of the investment will be developed “collaboratively” and areas of focus would include developing skills, supporting research and development, targeting procurement to benefit local economies, investment and partnership.
The announcement highlighted Scotland’s existing role as a centre for shipbuilding, academic research into defence technologies and the burgeoning space sector.
Defence Secretary John Healey said: “The Defence Industrial Strategy will make defence an engine for growth in Scotland, backing jobs, industry and innovators.
“Defence Growth Deals offer a new partnership with UK defence to build on industrial and innovation strengths that regions already hold. Together we aim to drive an increase in defence skills and jobs across Scotland.
“We want to make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a defence firm and will put Britain at the leading edge of innovation.”
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander added: “The UK Government’s Defence Industrial Strategy will mean a real boost for Scotland’s economy and create highly skilled jobs for years to come – this is the defence dividend.
“Just last week we saw a £10 billion shipbuilding contract come to Clydeside – that is a fantastic example of what can be achieved with a government committed to ensuring Scotland benefits from the global rise in defence spending. Scotland’s defence sector is second to none, and our Defence Industrial Strategy will help ensure it has a thriving future, as part of our plan for change.”
