The future of Rosyth dockyard could come under threat from either complete closure or severe cutbacks in the event of independence, according to a UK Government paper.
A report by Westminster’s Defence Committee also says information published so far by the Scottish Government on the defence and security implications of a Yes vote falls “far short of requirements”.
However, the Scottish Government said jobs were at risk now because of cutbacks within the British structure.
The report says Scotland’s defence industry “would face a difficult future” if there is a Yes vote next September, with the burden mostly shouldered by companies engaged in shipbuilding, maintenance, and high-end technology.
It also claims the requirements of a Scottish defence force would not generate enough domestic demand to compensate for the loss of “lucrative contracts” from the MoD, which would be carried out in the rest of the UK.
“Although we recognise the commercial risks associated with the potential loss of some highly skilled employees, we believe defence companies in Scotland would be forced to rapidly reassess their business strategies, with the result that relocation of operations to the remainder of the UK would be an unwelcome but necessary decision,” says the report.
Dunfermline and West Fife MP Thomas Docherty, a committee member, said: “It is clear that without Royal Navy contracts, West Fife industry faces a very bleak future.”
The Defence Committee also said it cannot judge the likely running costs of the proposed Scottish defence force because of the limited information it has received from the Scottish Government but questioned whether the proposed budget of £2.5 billion could support any plans.
The SNP’s desire to join NATO was also cast into doubt, with the report claiming the response to an application would be influenced by the Scottish Government’s stance on nuclear weapons.
Veterans minister Keith Brown claimed the current UK defence arrangements do not meet Scotland’s needs.
He said: “Currently, jobs are at risk too our RAF bases are reducing from three to one and we have seen substantially greater reductions of MoD service and civilian personnel in Scotland than in the UK as a whole.”