The Scottish Affairs Committee at Westminster is to launch a new inquiry into employment and skills for the Scottish defence industry, to start in the New Year.

In July 2007 a £7.7bn increase in the defence budget over three years was announced, and £3.8bn will be spent on two 65,000 tonne Royal Navy aircraft carriers. A significant proportion of the construction will take place in Scotland and the order for the carriers will be completed at yards on the Clyde and at Rosyth.

The Committee will consider how Scotland can maximise the opportunities arising from defence construction contracts, including the contract for the new aircraft carriers, and will examine the Scottish skills base, the distribution of jobs and economic benefit across Scotland and the opportunities for associated industries and the wider supply chain, including small businesses, across Scotland.

The Committee welcomes written evidence from interested parties on any, or all, aspects of the inquiry by 8 January 2008, and will also carry out a series of public oral evidence sessions.

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