A UK government minister has given an “absolute assurance” that the famous Black Watch battalion will not be axed – but refused to rule out the closure of its Fort George home.
Scotland Office Minister Andrew Dunlop was quizzed by the Press and Journal on the future of the historic garrison while on a visit to Inverness yesterday.
He confirmed that the future of Fort George was being reviewed – but insisted that the same was true of “all” military bases in the UK.
Lord Dunlop made the remarks on the day that concerns emerged that Kinloss Barracks in Moray is also facing closure as part of the Ministry of Defence’s footprint strategy.
The Conservative minister moved to reassure the 500-strong Black Watch battalion, which has been stationed at Fort George since 2007, that the famous name would live on for years to come.
However, he could not make the same pledge over the future of the 250-year-old base itself – or Kinloss Barracks, which is home to members of the 39 Engineer Regiment.
The Conservative minister told the Press and Journal: “I’ve read there is a sort of concern about the Black Watch and I want to give you an absolute assurance that there will be no cap badges lost.
“The future of the Black Watch is absolutely assured.
“With regard to the strategic defence review, as part of that there is a review of bases across the UK going on, it is not something that is specific to Fort George or Kinloss.
“It is something which the MoD periodically does – it reviews all its bases and then in due course it will makes decisions about how it wants to provide for its estate across the UK.
“It is across the UK and not something that is peculiar to Fort George or Kinloss.”
Pressed to rule out the closure of the bases, Lord Dunlop said: “I’m not going to speculate about a review that is ongoing.
“As the Scotland Office, we will be making our views known as part of that review, but I’m not going to speculate on the outcome of a review that as I say is across the UK, and not specific to Scotland.”
A total of 3,345 people have now signed the Press and Journal’s petition to save Fort George from closure.