Scotland’s Deputy First Minister has written to the UK’s Defence Secretary seeking assurances on the future of RAF Leuchars.
Nicola Sturgeon has sent a letter to Phillip Hammond asking for clarity on how the forthcoming Westminster defence review will impact on Scotland, including the Fife base.
It was announced last summer that RAF operations at Leuchars would be ended, which would be offset with an increase in excess of 2,000 personnel across Scotland.
Ms Sturgeon said: ”We have sought to engage positively throughout the UK Government’s defence review and we will continue to play our part to achieve the best outcomes possible in the circumstances for service personnel, their families and the communities that host them around Scotland.
”Despite our engagement with the UK Government, there has been no further clarity around the actual impact in Scotland since the announcement 17 months ago.
”I am writing to stress that ahead of such decisions being made they should take account of proper analysis of the impact on local communities and economies and to seek assurances that the Ministry of Defence will honour the commitment to significantly increase the military footprint in Scotland by over 2,000 personnel.”
In her letter to Mr Hammond, Ms Sturgeon said the Scottish Government is ”keen to see the overall military footprint in Scotland maximised”, adding that the country has much to offer service personnel and their families.
She said local communities highlighting those in and around Leuchars, Arbroath, Edinburgh, Rosyth and Kinloss have had to suffer through a lengthy period of uncertainty and should now be given clarity to plan for their futures.
The letter also said ”proper analysis of the impact on local communities and economies” should be taken into account and that the Scottish Government would contribute to such analysis if required.
In July, 39 Engineer Regiment took over the former RAF Kinloss site which will see more than 700 soldiers relocating to Scotland from England.
Faslane will see an increase with the basing of the new Astute class attack submarines at HMNB Clyde but plans for the return of 20,000 troops from Germany by 2020 have not been finalised.
A spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: ”We are in the final stages of our basing review and expect to make an announcement in due course. We can be clear that the final plans will make the best use of the existing Defence Estate and also achieve the best value for money for the taxpayer.”