Defence Spending: Scotland

Lord Walney Excerpts

Tuesday 29th April 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Coaker (Lab)]

My noble friend is probably more able to comment on the SNP and the SNP Government than I am, but his question is serious and important. It gives us an opportunity to say that the base on Faslane—the nuclear deterrent provided there —is fundamental to the defence of our country. I note that even a former leader of the SNP is now talking about the need to maintain that nuclear deterrent, even if it were to be based in England.

Although the SNP has questioned the continuation of the independent nuclear deterrent, that did not stop it changing its policy in 2012 on being a member of NATO. I remind the SNP, as well as this House, all of Scotland and the whole of the UK, that NATO is of course a nuclear alliance. That provides protection for Scotland, and for the rest of the UK and our allies.

[Lord Walney (CB)]

With reference to the last question, the Scottish National Party is not represented in this Chamber so I am sure it will not mind me speaking about it. Whatever the views of the SNP Government or, indeed, any Administration, on a particular conflict, is it not vital that all parts of this United Kingdom get behind our defence sector? You can consider yourself pro-Israel or pro-Palestine, but to be pro-Scotland you have to back defence jobs in all parts of the UK, including north of the border.

[Lord Coaker (Lab)]

The noble Lord is absolutely right and makes a very good point. There are some 25,000 to 26,000 defence-related jobs across Scotland and that will increase, I would suggest, with the increased expenditure that we will see. There are RAF, Army and naval bases across Scotland as well, but the important point to make is that the defence of the UK requires the integrated union that we have. That is what people in Scotland and the rest of the country support. The defence of those values is important; it is as important to the people of Scotland, whatever their political persuasion, as it is to the rest of the UK. The noble Lord is right to remind us that the defence of the UK, whether it is Scotland or elsewhere, is of importance to us all.