Lindsay Roy
Main Page: Lindsay Roy (Labour - Glenrothes)Department Debates - View all Lindsay Roy's debates with the Scotland Office
(12 years, 1 month ago)
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Lindsay Roy (Glenrothes) (Lab)
1. What assessment he has made of the potential effects on jobs in Scotland of Scottish independence.
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (David Mundell)
The UK Government firmly believe that Scotland is, and always will be, better off in the UK. The UK Government are undertaking a programme of analysis to evaluate how Scotland contributes to, and benefits from, being part of the UK.
Lindsay Roy
I thank the Minister for that answer. Will he explain why there is so much concern among those working in the defence and supply chain industries in Scotland over the future of their jobs?
David Mundell
I can advise the hon. Gentleman that, as of April, there were 15,880 regular armed forces and Ministry of Defence civilian personnel based in Scotland, and an additional 40,000 people employed in defence-related industries in around 800 companies. Not one of those people could guarantee their job under an independent Scotland.