The delays to the Type-26 warships by the UK Government is causing ongoing uncertainty for workers at the Scotstoun and Govan shipyards.
Working closely with my colleagues Chris Stephens MP and MSPs Bill Kidd and Humza Yousaf, we have pressured the UK Government to ensure that the commitments made to build the ships on the Clyde are kept.
I have written to and had meetings with the Defence Secretary and with the Chair of the the National Shipbuilding Strategy to raise this issue and to stress the importance of starting this work as soon as possible.
It is incredibly disappointing that the workforce have been subject to these needless delays when the UK Government have admitted that these frigates could only be built in Glasgow. Scotstoun and Govan are the only yards in the UK where a highly skilled workforce capable of building these ships exists.
My colleagues and I will continue to pursue the UK Government to ensure that the commitment is kept to retain vital shipbuilding skills on the Clyde.