Advertiser letter 41 Babcock has claimed that all of the navy and civilian jobs at Faslane/Coulport could be lost because of Scottish independence. Is the company aware of secret plans for a base somewhere else for the Scottish Navy and the Scottish Defence Force headquarters? Why would any government of an independent Scotland not want to use the fantastic facilities at Faslane for our naval staff, and all of the Scottish navy’s support technical and civilian staff living in and around the new look Helensburgh? Does Babcock not appreciate the great opportunities coming from this local area hosting the Scottish Defence Force headquarters, managing a £2.5 billion defence budget with military personnel from all three forces and with civilian staff from a wide range of professions and trades. Babcock has said it doesnt believe there are the necessary docking facilities locally for Frigates, OPVs or a Command Platform, but why does the company suggest that this means activities would need to move elsewhere? Perhaps Babcock is not aware of “Operation Torch” which created a local naval base during the Second World War, with activities including the repair of convoy escort vessels, dock space for a depot ship and other ships on their way to Soviet ports. Creating the necessary docking facilities in the Gareloch again would bring huge local job opportunities. Babcock plc has a strong financial interest in maintaining the status quo at Faslane and Coulport. Our local bases are a highly profitable part of Babcocks Marine division, in which a total operating profits increased by 13% to £153 million last year. Babcock may feel anxious about the risk to its profit margins from independence, but both the company and staff should have reason to feel confident that their expertise and experience will be vital to see through the changes involved in establishing Faslane/Coulport as the home base of the Scottish Navy, and a port of call for ships of other nations. An independent Scotland should be a country, where we leave behind the negativity and threats of the referendum campaign, and work together on the opportunities for a better future, which will include the development of Helensburgh as the home of Scotlands defence security.
Posted on: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 11:13:32 +0000
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