North East Fife MP Sir Menzies Campbell has called on the UK Government to consider implementing a study into the contribution that individual defence installations such as RAF Leuchars make to their local economy.
In a question to the Secretary of State for Scotland, Jim Murphy, at Scottish Questions in the House of Commons yesterday (Wednesday) the Liberal Democrat MP said:
“The Secretary of State clearly knows the contribution that RAF Leuchars in my constituency has made to British defence for a very long time.
“He has told the House of the total contribution of defence expenditure to the Scottish economy. Will he consider a study into the contribution that individual defence installations make to their local economy, to include RAF Leuchars and also, perhaps, Faslane?â€
In his reply, the Scottish Secretary noted Sir Menzies’ “important point†about the specific contributions made by RAF Leuchars and said that he would be happy to meet to discuss “what specifically we could do to raise the profile of the work of the personnel there and across Scotland.â€
The transcript of Sir Menzies’ question and the answer from Jim Murphy:
Sir Menzies Campbell (North-East Fife) (LD): The Secretary of State clearly knows the contribution
that RAF Leuchars in my constituency has made to British defence for a very long time. He has told
the House of the total contribution of defence expenditure to the Scottish economy. Will he
consider a study into the contribution that individual defence installations make to their local
economy, to include RAF Leuchars and also, perhaps, Faslane?
Mr. Murphy: The right hon. and learned Gentleman raises an important point about the specific
contributions made by RAF Leuchars and Faslane. I am aware that, for example, in Argyll and Clyde
about 6,500 defence jobs are reliant on MOD work. On Leuchars, I am happy to discuss with him what
specifically we could do to raise the profile of the work of the personnel there and across
Scotland, but it is a matter that I would have to discuss in more detail with my right hon. Friend
the Secretary of State for Defence.
