By Aileen Robertson

WITH NO announcement on the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers expected until autumn MP Willie Rennie has expressed grave concern for the future of Rosyth dockyard.

The yard’s 1200-strong workforce is relying on a share of the £4 billion project to safeguard jobs.

Workers at the dockyard had expected the Ministry of Defence to place orders for the two 65,000-tonne warships at the end of last year, but heard nothing.

It was then predicted Gordon Brown would make an announcement on his appointment as Britain’s new Prime Minister at the end of the month. Hopes were again dashed at the weekend when it was revealed the announcement is now likely to be made in October or November.

Work on the supercarriers would not only provide security for the workforce but would also create new jobs and apprenticeships at the yard.

But with no decision imminent, dockyard owners Babcock have had to relocate employees to the Clyde and Barrow-in-Furness because of gaps in the order book.

Mr Rennie, Lib Dem MP for Dunfermline and West Fife, said the workers could not be relocated indefinitely and the delay had plunged the yard’s future into uncertainty.

He also said the decision to share the Future Aircraft Carrier (CVF) project with French yards was worrying for Fife.

France has reportedly contributed £100 million to the design of the ships, and it is understood the MoD plans to have parts of the ships built at St Nazaire and Brest to cut costs. The carriers would be built in three sections and assembled and commissioned in Rosyth.

Rosyth was previously in line for construction work on one of the hull sections. However, it is understood that work will now be shared between the French yards and VT Shipbuilding’s base at Portsmouth.

In the House of Commons yesterday, Defence Secretary Des Browne confirmed the Ministry of Defence had been in discussion with France about CVF contracts.

Mr Rennie, who raised the issue with Mr Browne, said, “What worries me most, is if we don’t get the construction contract for one of the superblocks, that is bound to have an effect on the workforce.

“Rosyth is likely to be involved in the maintenance of the ships, but that is a longer term issue. There is no indication that other work will come the dockyard’s way in the meantime. I’m extremely concerned that we could be losing out.

“I think it’s very important that Gordon Brown considers what is happening on his own doorstep. We had a long-term promise that the jobs would be coming to Rosyth.

“I don’t think the maintenance contracts will be enough if we don’t have the construction work as well. It is the construction work that will maintain skills at the yard for years to come.

“It is extremely frustrating that the workforce is kept hanging on. Jobs had to be relocated to the Clyde to see the yard through in the short term. The longer Rosyth has to wait, the greater chance we are going to have redundancies.

“The MoD needs to understand how significant these contracts are to the future of the dockyard.”