Scottish Independence: Faslane

Lord Trefgarne Excerpts

Monday 3rd March 2014 Lords Chamber

[Lord Astor of Hever]

My Lords, even if I did know that I could not possibly tell him about it.

[Lord Trefgarne (Con)]

My Lords, is there not a major defence manufacturing activity in Scotland, much of which may well be lost if Scotland chooses to become independent?

[Lord Astor of Hever]

My noble friend makes a very good point. The Ministry of Defence spent more than £20 billion with UK industry in 2011-12, with a £160 billion, 10-year equipment programme. Companies based in an independent Scotland would no longer be eligible for contracts that the UK chose to place domestically for national security reasons. Where they could continue to compete, they would be pitching for business in an international market dominated by major economic powers.