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MP challenges Minister to act on redundancies
August 29, 2006 12:00 AM
The Government should put an end to the farce of 90 redundancies at Rosyth Dockyard, according to the Yard's MP, Willie Rennie. He wants the £2 million the Ministry of Defence plans to spend on the redundancies to be used to increase work at the yard.
"It's a complete farce," said Mr Rennie who was pressing, along with the Yard's Unions and Management, for more work to come to the yard.
"They need these 90 highly skilled and motivated employees for the aircraft carrier work which is due to come to the yard. Yet through short term decision-making they are using hard earned taxpayers' money to pay redundancies. Instead that money should be used to carry out essential refit work on other ships which would ensure the continued employment of these valued employees.
"The refit of the HMS Liverpool, the HMS Chiddingford and the HMS Grimsby was supposed to ensure the highly skilled workforce could be kept on for the aircraft carrier work. But the scope of the work has been cut resulting in 90 redundancies.
"Rosyth Dockyard is an essential part of the Government's plans for maintenance and development of the British Navy fleet. Yet it treats the people who it expects to deliver this work with disdain. Workers at Rosyth are understandably angry at these cuts. Just a few months ago they were told there would be no job losses. This is a bitter blow.
"The Government is pumping its money into the war in Iraq, a decision we described as folly at the time. This is forcing them to make cuts elsewhere.
"This is amateurish short-termism. Any cuts today will only hurt our own armed forces tomorrow. It is time for the Minister responsible, Lord Drayson, to intervene. We need sensible long-term Government planning.
"When I initially heard rumours about cuts to the so called Liverpool 5 had discussions with Defence Secretary, Des Browne, and Defence Minister, Lord Drayson, to ensure that there would be no job losses. I am extremely annoyed by this decision. "
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