The Fife economy could see a big jobs boost once the outcome of the Ministry of Defence’s military basing review is put in place, an MP has claimed.
Dunfermline and West Fife Labour MP Thomas Docherty told The Courier yesterday he believed defence company Babcock was ”ideally placed” to build and maintain new infrastructure at HMS Caledonia and Leuchars.
He also believes there is a strong case for Leuchars to have a joint army and RAF presence, although Mr Docherty said he believed people would have to ”face reality” that there is likely to be a reduced RAF presence in Scotland.
As reported by The Courier on Saturday, businesses and community leaders close to RAF Leuchars have criticised the MoD for its long, drawn-out military basing review, the outcome of which is now not expected until next year.
Confirmation on the return of service personnel from Germany and future basing arrangements across the UK was expected to be made today.
The MoD has confirmed this will now not happen until later but stated on Friday its plans for a ”major army presence” at Leuchars still stood.
The explanation given by the MoD for the latest delay is because of the new form of private finance and the reductions in resource spending announced by the Chancellor in the Autumn Statement.
Yesterday, Mr Docherty repeated his view that the MoD had to get better at communicating with communities as to the reasons for the delay.
However, it was important they got this right and he believed Fife could benefit in the long run.
He said: ”People can be assured there will be a significant military presence at Leuchars. There will be no rusty chain on the gate, as some have feared.
”The ongoing debate is what that configuration is going to look like. The original structure of the army as detailed in July 2011 has changed.
”If the army is coming to Leuchars, what will come is likely not to be heavy army or HQ style, due to the configurations now being looked at elsewhere. The army is still deciding what to put there.
”There may be an argument for army reserves at Caledonia.
”It’s certainly a huge potential jobs boost for the Fife economy and Babcock.
”They could effectively build and maintain the new bases this new private finance being talked about by the MoD is about the army getting out of maintaining the plumbing themselves.
”This will save the MoD a lot of money up front and also in the longer run.”
Mr Docherty acknowledged there was a public perception that money already spent on bases, such as Leuchars, could potentially be wasted.
He added: ”They blew £250 million on aircraft carriers that were not going to carry jump jets and now have gone back to the original specifications.
”Investment on the Typhoons at Leuchars could still be down the pan, although Ming (North East Fife MP Sir Menzies Campbell) and I have not given up hope that there is still a future for the RAF at Leuchars.
”What’s important is that the MoD gets this right.”
Mr Docherty said there remained a ”compelling case” for Leuchars to retain an RAF role.
He added: ”For me, Ming’s argument about providing Leuchars as an alternative Typhoon base to Lossiemouth holds a lot of traction.
”I can envisage Lossie being a primary typhoon base but with Leuchars’ runway kept as an alternative. ‘Alternatively, the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft could go for training at Lossie.
”But people should be in no doubt there will likely be a reduction in the RAF footprint in Scotland. The army brings great opportunities for Fife but there are also ways to keep a ‘light blue’ presence.”