Rosyth dockyard will be future-proofed with work dismantling decommissioned submarines and building the warships of the future, the UK’s new armed forces minister says.
The Labour minister pointed to the opportunities of the future at the yard, re-committing the new government to a continued Ministry of Defence presence and ongoing work for the dockyard’s management contractor Babcock.
The yard’s future has often become a political football since the independence referendum as the No campaign told Scots that tens of thousands of jobs could be lost if Scotland voted to leave the UK.
Hundreds of jobs have been lost in the last decade regardless, leading to accusations of broken promises by the SNP.
The continued MoD presence at the rise was finally secured in 2023 after years of uncertainty, with Mr Pollard re-stating this commitment despite a change in government.
Babcock International, the contractor who runs the dockyard, has also resolved a shipbuilding dispute with the government which saw it lose tens of millions delivering the Type 31 programme in Fife.
As well as this contract, Mr Pollard said there would be further work at the yard.
He told The Courier: “We’re committed to building the new Type 31 frigates, which are being built in Rosyth.
“There’s also opportunities for the submarine recycling work that is at a very nascent stage in Rosyth at the moment.”
‘There’s opportunities in Rosyth’
Around six decommissioned submarines are currently in dry dock in Rosyth, having arrived in 2007.
A parliamentary committee criticised the slow rate of progress in 2018, and the work is now expected to be complete by 2035.
Mr Pollard added: “There’s six old nuclear submarines that are stored in Rosyth. And as a responsible nuclear power we need to deal with those old nuclear submarines.
“There’s opportunities at Rosyth. I’m not expecting there to be any risk to those endeavors, what we have to do is make sure that when we have a sustainable shipbuilding program, we’re able to build ships at a reasonable cost with the right capabilities in the future.”
Local MP welcomes progress
He said a part of this would be ensuring future ship building projects integrated drone warfare and other developments.
Graeme Downie, the new MP for Dunfermline and Dollar, welcomed the refreshed assurance for the yard.
He said: “I welcome the moves already being made at Rosyth to begin the responsible and safe decommissioning of the nuclear submarines at Rosyth.
“Not only is the right thing to do, it also offers up the possibility of more highly skilled and well-paid jobs and skills being needed for years in to the future.
“I have already had initial discussions with the dockyard as well as the MoD ministers to ensure partners are working together to finally deal with this legacy and will continue to support those moves.”
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