Nuclear-powered Submarines Debate

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Department: Ministry of Defence

Nuclear-powered Submarines

Alan Reid Excerpts
Monday 18th June 2012

(12 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Lord Hammond of Runnymede Portrait Mr Hammond
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I am delighted that the unions at Rolls- Royce have welcomed the announcement. They will clearly recognise the value of supporting these high-tech jobs, which are vital to the UK skills base.

Alan Reid Portrait Mr Alan Reid (Argyll and Bute) (LD)
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I welcome today’s announcement. The investment is necessary for the construction of the last of the Astute-class submarines, all of which will be based at Faslane. I hope the Secretary of State can assure the House that investment in Faslane, which is necessary for all the British submarines to be based there, will not be held up by the long delay before the SNP’s referendum in October 2014.

Lord Hammond of Runnymede Portrait Mr Hammond
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I can assure the hon. Gentleman that the Government are pressing ahead with their plans on the confident assumption that the referendum will deliver a vote in favour of the Union.