SNP WELCOMES NIMROD ANNOUNCEMENT
Posted on Tuesday, July 18 2006
“Victory for local campaigners and service community”The Scottish National Party (SNP) has welcomed the go-ahead for the next generation of Nimrod MRA4 aircraft, which will secure the future of RAF Kinloss in Moray for decades to come.Local MP and SNP Defence spokesman Angus Robertson said the decision was a “victory for local campaigners and the service community”. Earlier, the Ministry of Defence announced that a total of 12 revamped Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft will be built by defence manufacturer BAE systems. As the Vice-Convener of the All Party RAF Group at Westminster Mr Robertson was briefed earlier this month by the Chief of the Air Staff Sir Glenn Torpy who discussed the importance of the Nimrod project.All of the new MRA4 aircraft will be based at RAF Kinloss which houses the current Nimrod fleet and was judged last year to be the best base for the reconnaissance aircraft.The MOD basing commitment followed a high profile campaign to keep both RAF Kinloss and RAF Lossiemouth involving Moray MP Angus Robertson, local public and private sector partners and the trade unions. The £2.4bn Nimrod contract secures 700 manufacturing jobs at Woodford and 500 posts at Warton, near Preston which are involved in the flight testing programme of the aircraft. Speaking at the House of Commons after the announcement Angus Robertson MP said: "This announcement is excellent news for Moray and RAF Kinloss and is a victory for local campaigners and service community.“Nimrod is an important part of RAF plans for the future and RAF Kinloss is the best base suited to accommodate the aircraft."When I recently raised the future of Nimrod with Air Chief Marshal Torpy he said that under his leadership RAF priorities were concentrating around intelligence, surveillance and targeting. These are exactly the capabilities offered by the enhanced Nimrod. "Clearly there have been issues with the project procurement and development however they do not diminish the strategic requirement for Nimrod or the fact that RAF Kinloss and its personnel are best placed to receive the new aircraft."I will continue to work with Moray SNP MSP Richard Lochhead, local public and private sector partners as well as the trade unions to secure the optimal future for Nimrod at RAF Kinloss.Moray SNP MSP Richard Lochhead added his welcome to the announcement: “This is great news for everybody associated with RAF Kinloss and the Nimrod fleet. “It is a real testimony of success to everybody who worked so hard to secure RAF Kinloss as the base for the new generation of Nimrod aircraft.“This was a joint effort involving the trade unions, public and private sector partners and significant work by Moray MP Angus Robertson.ENDSBackground note:Contact: Graham Leadbitter, Parliamentary Assistant – Tel: 01343 551111
AA WARNS OF £1 LITRE ACROSS UK
Posted on Monday, July 17 2006
Commenting on the AA's warning of fuel prices reaching £1 a litre the SNP MP for Moray, Angus Robertson, has called on the Government to address changing their fuel tax regime to offset the problems higher fuel prices will cause for ordinary people and businesses.Commenting Angus Robertson said: "Already in Moray we have fuel prices reaching £1 a litre. This is already a top issue here as it is in large areas of rural Scotland."The Government must now take action to offset the problems higher fuel prices will have on ordinary people and businesses."The SNP has already suggested a fuel tax regulator and I, along with other Highlands and Islands MPs have joined together to call on the UK Government to seek a derogation from fuel taxes for rural areas. "The Government, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer in particular, have the power to offset these rises through tax. They must now act to do that."There has been concern across the whole of Scotland over the steep rise in fuel taxes which lead on to higher prices."Ordinary people and businesses need urgent government action to protect them from the worst effects of a soaring world oil price and the impact of Gordon Brown's fuel taxes. A fuel tax regulator would provide that without affecting revenue."Mr Brown could also lobby European Union partners for a derogation which applies to remote regions to help the Highlands & Islands. Ironically they supported France when they successfully achieved a derogation. If they can support French remote regions why not Scotland's?"This latest warning from the AA must be heeded otherwise many people will suffer because of rising fuel prices. It is a further irony that Scotland has such soaring fuel tax whilst being one of world's largest oil producers."ENDS
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