WIREDGOV

Fife community leaders and councillors met with the First Minister yesterday as part of the ongoing campaign to save Scotland's RAF bases.

The UK Strategic Defence and Security Strategy, published in October 2010, raises concerns about the future of RAF Leuchars and Lossiemouth.

The FM met community representatives and elected members to discuss the campaign and the submission to the MOD on the case for retaining the base.

Scottish Government officials are working with Fife Council, Scottish Enterprise, Fife Chamber of Commerce and local MSPs and MPs to demonstrate all-party support for the retention of RAF Leuchars. Fife Council and partners have constructed an economic and defence case for retaining RAF Leuchars and this will be submitted to the Ministry of Defence tomorrow.

Mr Salmond is due to attend the Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC) in London next Wednesday where he intends to raise the issue of Scotland's defence footprint with UK Government Ministers.

Mr Salmond said:

"The UK Government's strategic defence review has far-reaching consequences for the communities of Fife and Moray, socially and economically.

"Scottish Government Ministers stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Fife and Moray as they campaign to protect local jobs, infrastructure and investment in the face of unprecedented cuts from Westminster. We urgently need clarity from the MOD on the future of these important RAF bases and I will press this point when I meet UK Ministers in London next week.

"The Scottish Government continues to work closely with Fife Council and community representatives in their ongoing campaign to save RAF Leuchars. We support their submission to the Defence Secretary which outlines the solid economic and defence argument for retaining the base. We have made it absolutely clear that we will defend both RAF bases - we will not choose between Leuchars and Lossiemouth.

"RAF Leuchars is now one of only two front-line air bases left in Scotland out of the 22 RAF flying stations in the UK. While tough decisions are unavoidable in the challenging financial climate, they must be proportionate and fair.

"The MOD has now said that a decision on these bases may be delayed until summer - it is completely unacceptable and unreasonable that the people of Fife and Moray should have to endure such a long period of uncertainty over their future.

"Scotland has already suffered a major blow and made a significant sacrifice through RAF Kinloss - and the case for retaining both Leuchars and Lossiemouth is overwhelming. The people and communities whose livelihoods rely on our surviving air bases demand and deserve some straight answers from the UK Government."

Depute leader of Fife Council's Administration Councillor Elizabeth Riches said:

"RAF Leuchars is a vital component of the UK's future homeland defence network. Its strategic position proves the argument that the current Defence Strategy is the right one.

"The economic and community benefits cannot be understated in Fife and throughout the rest of Scotland, the impact that RAF Leuchars has on businesses is significant."

Attending the meeting today:

• Carroll Finnie Chairman, Leuchars Community Council
• Elspeth Patterson Chair, GuardBridge Community Council
• Zoe Smith Chair, Balmullo Community Council
• Patricia Johnston Headteacher, Leuchars Primary School
• Rev Caroline Taylor Minister, St Athernase Church of Scotland, Leuchars
• Cllr Tim Brett Leuchars Community Councillor
• Cllr Maggie Taylor Leuchars Community Councillor
• Cllr Ron Caird Leuchars Community Councillor
• Keith Winters Head of Development Services, Fife Council
• Sandra Montador-Stewart, Team Leader, Strategic Policy, Fife Council Cllr Elizabeth Riches Fife Council
• Cllr Ross Vettraino Fife Council
• Cllr Alex Rowley Fife Council
• Alan Russell Chief Executive, Fife Chamber of Commerce