ScottishTimes SNP Press Release: SNP SLAMS DISPROPORTIONATE RESERVE CLOSURES IN SCOTLAND The Scottish National Party (SNP) has criticised the Ministry of Defence announcement about reserve forces as a ‘dog’s breakfast ‘ which disproportionately cuts reserve centres in Scotland. Defence Secretary Philip Hammond today confirmed that 7 out of 38 Army and Navy reserve centres to be closed are in Scotland, which amounts to 18%, more than twice Scotland’s population share. The centres announced for closure are in: Dunfermline, Dunoon, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Keith , Kirkcaldy and Wick. Westminster SNP Leader and defence spokesperson Angus Robertson MP said: “The disproportionate defence cuts to Scotland continue with the announcement that 7 out of 38 centres being closed are located in Scotland. That the announcement descended into a ‘dog’s breakfast” was a massive discourtesy to those communities hit. The reserve forces have a long proud and invaluable tradition of service, and they deserve better than today’s shambles. “It is high time to make better defence decisions in Scotland rather than allow Westminster to make bad decisions on our behalf. “A higher proportion of closures in Scotland than in the rest of the UK is something we are sadly used to from the MoD and adds to the 520 redundancies already revealed this week at locations across Scotland. “Whilst we welcome some of the long overdue improvements in the terms and conditions for reservists, the changes will arouse suspicion that it is another coalition cost cutting move not really aimed at modernising the army for the 21st Century.”
Posted on: Wed, 03 Jul 2013 13:12:12 +0000
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