Space defence drive could provide major jobs spin-off, claims Ross MP
ROSS-SHIRE MP Jamie Stone wants to see his constituency benefit from any potential new defence and military surveillance capabilities put in place by the Ministry of Defence to counter “increasing and diversifying” threats.
The Tain-based MP made his remarks in the wake of a national newspaper story claiming to show that the MoD is considering such plans.
He has requested a meeting with the Secretary of State for Defence to highlight how these new measures to safeguard space infrastructure could benefit the Scottish economy and job markets in his Highland constituency.
He said: “Britain is a world leader in satellite technology and with the Sutherland space launch site, we have the opportunity to be at the forefront in launching this technology.
“Investment from the MoD in my constituency, with new space defence workforce jobs being located close to the space site, would prove a real boost for my constituency.
“We have the opportunity to put Scotland on a global map as an industry leader when it comes to space launch and investment from the MoD could have very positive implications for Scotland as a whole, and the Far North in particular, and that’s what I will be highlighting to the Secretary of State.”
He has shared a copy of his letter to Penny Mordaunt in the wake of the story. He wrote: "As you are aware the UK’s first vertical space launch facility is planned to be established in north Sutherland in my constituency. On the back of this project – and the story in today’s Times, which makes mention of an increase in the MoD space defence workforce – I wonder if I could suggest that it would be logical for some of these new jobs to be close to the space launch site itself.
"The attraction for the MoD is that business rental costs in a town such as Thurso, not far from the launch site, are well below the national average. In a time when we are trying to make the defence budget go as far as possible, I believe that this would prove attractive.
"Secondly I’d make the point that in a digital age the geographical location of personnel within the UK becomes less important – however, having personnel near to the place that rockets and satellites are launched is vital.
"With all of the above in mind I wonder if you would agree to meet with me to discuss the potential here. As you will also be aware, in constituencies such as those represented by Ged Killen MP and Paul Sweeney MP there are enterprises involved in space research and manufacture, and I wonder if it would be sensible to include them in any such meeting because clearly space launch and the defence of the UK could have very positive implications for Scotland as a whole."
