SNP concern at imminent RAF cuts

16 July 2011 Last updated at 23:05 GMT Closures could mean a cut in RAF personnel of up to 74%, the Scottish government claims The Ministry of Defence could be about to announce "massive and disproportionate" RAF cuts in Scotland, according to the Scottish government.

The SNP said it believed an announcement on plans to close a second Scottish military airbase was imminent.

Under a UK government review, RAF Kinloss is already to be axed with the cancellation of the Nimrod contract.

Concern remains over the fates of Lossiemouth and Leuchars.

Westminster SNP leader Angus Robertson said the joint closure of RAF Kinloss and RAF Lossiemouth would constitute a 74% cut in RAF personnel in Scotland.

The joint closure of RAF Kinloss and RAF Leuchars would constitute a 53% cut, he added.

"Our defence communities are braced for bad news, they have been treated appallingly by the UK government throughout this process, and they now deserve certainty over their future," he said.

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No other part of the country is facing such devastation and Prime Minister Cameron needs to understand this”

End Quote Ewan McGregor Actor "There is no strategic or defence reason why the Ministry of Defence should consider massive and disproportionate cuts to the RAF in Scotland, while concentrating basing, spending and manpower in the south of England.

"Given Scotland's geographic location and the increasing importance of the high north it makes no sense for Whitehall to make swinging cuts to capability, personnel and bases.

"How can a cut of up to 74% in Scotland be justified?"

Mr Robertson contrasted Scotland's situation with Nordic countries, claiming they had similar strategic priorities and yet maintained more airbases and more aircraft.

Actor Ewan McGregor and his brother Colin, who is a former Tornado pilot, have added their voices to the appeal to save RAF Lossiemouth.

'No sense'

Trainspotting and Moulin Rouge star Ewan, who is originally from Crieff, said: "It is simply unimaginable for RAF Lossiemouth to be closed as an airbase in addition to RAF Kinloss only a few miles away.

"No other part of the country is facing such devastation and Prime Minister Cameron needs to understand this.

"Anyone who has been to the north of Scotland understands how important this is.

"Having had the good fortune to fly in a Tornado with Colin I know how critical the retention of RAF Lossiemouth is for the whole region."

His brother, who has just returned from Afghanistan where he visited 617 Squadron, added: "RAF Lossiemouth is the most capable military airbase in northern Europe and it makes no sense to close it."

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'Concern' over payments by OFMDFM

1 July 2011 Last updated at 17:36 GMT The audit office has expressed concern over "deficiencies and inconsistencies" in payments granted by the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister.

The contracts in question relate to the regeneration of the former Maze Prison site and the three smaller projects and total more than ?7m.

On the Maze the auditor said the office exceeded a limit of spending approved by the Department of Finance of ?3.5m.

It ended up entering into a contract for nearly ?5m.

He said he could not sign off on the financial transactions.

And the auditor asked why lessons that should have been learned in the past to avoid such difficulties had not been acted upon.

It is understood the Finance Department has now authorised an increase in the cost of the Maze project from ?5m to ?6m.

The committee which oversees the work of the Office of the First and Deputy First Minister has been recalled next week to discuss the report.

Its chairman, Ulster Unionist leader Tom Elliott, said the report will cause great concern to anyone who cares about how public money is spent.

He added that he was concerned the report had been issued on the day Stormont rises for the summer recess.

"It is something we were not aware of and it calls into serious question the department's accounting process," he said.

"All the committees at the assembly have a scrutiny role and it is vital that we take that role seriously and I would be neglecting my position if I were not to give people the information, and then it is up to the committee to decide if they want to take it any further."

A spokesman for OFMDFM said: "The department takes this situation very seriously and immediate action has been taken to address the issues identified."

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