Government has ‘extensive dialogue’ with defence sector – John Swinney

John Swinney has said his Government has “extensive dialogue” with the defence industry, after being accused of failing to meet companies in the sector.

Labour MP Graeme Downie said the Scottish Government is failing to prioritise links with defence companies despite global instability.

While powers over defence are reserved to Westminster, the Dunfermline & Dollar MP said the SNP is failing to engage on issues of skills and infrastructure.

That dogmatic position is the kind of division that Vladimir Putin is always keen to exploit and puts Scotland at risk

Mr Downie told The Scotsman: “They don’t even consider defence as a priority that should be supported in their own economic strategy.

“That dogmatic position is the kind of division that Vladimir Putin is always keen to exploit and puts Scotland at risk.”

On Monday, the First Minister said he wanted to forge close links with business.

He told the PA news agency: “The Government has extensive dialogue with all parts of business and that includes companies involved in the defence sector.

“One of the things I was determined to do was make sure my Government was closely engaged with business. I think the business community believes that to be the case.”

Mr Swinney said the government is investing in universities, colleges and apprenticeship programmes to ensure the workforce has the right skills for the economy, adding: “That’s very much at the heart of the legislation that ministers are taking through Parliament to make sure that can be the case in the future.”

To maximise the increase in defence spending... and support the jobs that could create, the Scottish Government must prioritise recruiting more teachers in these areas and boosting skills

On Tuesday, Mr Swinney will set out the final Programme for Government before the next Holyrood election.

This will set out the remaining legislation the Government intends to pass in the current session of the Scottish Parliament.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats called on the Government to ensure the Scottish National Investment Bank can back non-nuclear defence programmes.

Party leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “On the SNP’s watch, we’re seeing very worrying teacher shortages in subjects like maths, physics and computing, which are vital to developing the skills the defence sector needs.

“To maximise the increase in defence spending that’s coming to Scotland and support the jobs that could create, the Scottish Government must prioritise recruiting more teachers in these areas and boosting skills.

“We also want to see ministers exploring new investment opportunities for Scotland’s national bank, including for non-nuclear programmes of defence-related companies, subject to human rights due diligence, such as submarine programmes.”