Defence readiness minister Luke Pollard has confirmed that the UK Government's long-delayed defence spending plans will include significant investment for the Faslane nuclear submarine base on the Clyde. Speaking to the Scottish Affairs Committee, Pollard stated that 'massive investment' is needed at the base, which houses the UK's nuclear submarines, due to a backlog of underinvestment left by the previous Conservative government's 'austerity policies'.
Investment Details and Infrastructure Needs
Pollard emphasised the critical role of Faslane in national security, stating: 'We need good facilities to dock the submarines, we need good facilities to maintain the submarines and we need good facilities for our people who work there. At the moment, it’s fair to say, what we inherited doesn’t deliver all three of those.' He noted that some areas of Scotland, including Faslane, have not received required infrastructure upgrades.
The minister told MPs that they can 'expect to see investment in Faslane, in particular in the Dip (Defence Investment Plan)'. He added: 'We’re going to have to spend large amounts of capital spending upgrading the submarine infrastructure on the Clyde to make sure we can meet the threats we’re facing and we are dealing with a backlog of underinvestment, especially in some of those capital projects.'
Timing of Publication and Political Context
Publication of the Defence Investment Plan has been delayed, with former defence secretary John Healey and armed forces minister Al Carns both resigning from Sir Keir Starmer's Government amid concerns over spending. Pollard noted that he 'stayed to help complete the Dip when two of my colleagues resigned'. He indicated that the plan will be published before the Nato summit on July 7-8, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves 'confident' it will be done before Sir Keir and new Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis attend.
Scotland's Role in National Security
Pollard highlighted the importance of defence bases in Scotland, including quick reaction aircraft at RAF Lossiemouth and submarine missions from Faslane. 'The contribution that Scotland makes to keeping our nation safe is real and it is visible and it is every day, all day,' he said. 'Scotland is a key part in delivering our national security.'
He also addressed the changing nature of conflict, noting: 'The way that conflict is changing means that in the contest we are in with Russia, in particular, we might not be getting missiles or artillery shells coming over our border in the way that Ukraine is, but we are certainly seeing the undermining of our institutions, grey zone attacks and cyber attacks against the United Kingdom. We are responding to that with increased investment in our cyber defences. But that also means we’ve got to tell a different story about what conflict looks like today.'
