A UK GOVERNMENT minister has pledged there is “no question” over a Moray airbase’s future – and challenged the SNP to “come clean” on its defence plans for an independent Scotland.
Dr Andrew Murrison dismissed claims by the Nationalists that a planned fuel pipeline sell-off had put a fresh questionmark over RAF Lossiemouth’s role as a “red herring”.
The minister for international security and strategy was speaking during a tour of military sites in the north and north-east.
RAF Lossiemouth is undergoing an £85million upgrade to prepare it for the arrival of up to 30 Typhoon jets and hundreds of new personnel from Leuchars next year. During a visit to the once closure-threatened station, Dr Murrison hailed it as a “vital part of the UK’s defence footprint”.
He also urged First Minister Alex Salmond and his government to be frank about the structure of an independent Scotland’s armed forces.
He said: “At the moment we have no clarity from the SNP on how they would do defence, and how much they are going to spend on it.”
He said he hoped a planned SNP white paper on the issue would feature clear details about spending, the defence footprint and the implications for sites such as RAF Lossiemouth and Kinloss Barracks.
Dr Murrison made the comments after Moray MP Angus Robertson called on him to apologise for local defence cuts – such as the closure of RAF Kinloss before it was taken over by the Army, and the uncertainty which hung over RAF Lossiemouth for 18 months.
The minister insisted that proposals to sell-off the Government Pipeline and Storage System (GPSS), a 40-mile fuel link which runs from Inverness to the base, would “not in the slightest bit jeopardise” RAF Lossiemouth.
He added: “We have just spent £85million on this site.
“Clearly it is front and centre of our vision for defence in the UK. The story around GPSS is something of a red herring put about by the SNP.
“There can be no question about the future of this air station.
“It is an absolutely crucial part of our collective defence and security.”
Mr Robertson, leader of the SNP at Westminster, insisted his party had a clear defence policy which would be revealed in the white paper.
He said last night: “It’s disappointing that the minister did not apologise to the people of Moray for the economic damage and uncertainty caused by his government’s botched basing review.
“Westminster has an appalling recent record of disproportionate defence cuts in Scotland which have impacted particularly on defence-dependent communities.”
Mr Robertson said he looked forward to an independent Scotland and to making “better defence decisions”.
He said the SNP was committed to having at least 15,000 service personnel, when the current levels are around 11,000. Dr Murrison later visited Kinloss Barracks and Fort George to “better understand the capabilities” of the bases.
At the recent Cabinet reshuffle he was given special responsibility for Scotland at the Ministry of Defence, and his portfolio now includes infrastructure at defence bases.
Dr Murrison was shown improvements to facilities at all three sites, paying particular attention to the accommodation for personnel and their families.