nuclear-news

Possibility of Scottish independence raises nuclear arms worry

UK nuclear arms backup plan urgent ahead of Scottish vote – lawmakers 7 News, September 27, 2013 By William James LONDON (Reuters) – The British government must urgently draw up a contingency plan for where it can put its nuclear arsenal in case Scotland, where the submarine-based nuclear missile system is now located, votes for independence, a parliamentary study said on Friday………With less than a year to go to the September 18, 2014, referendum, the issue of what to do with Britain’s nuclear deterrent is urgent, lawmakers said.

“The possibility of Scottish independence represents a serious threat to the future operational viability of the UK’s nuclear deterrent,” said one of the conclusions of the year-long Defence Committee investigation into the impact of independence.

“The UK Government must now give urgent consideration to contingency options in the event of a ‘Yes’ vote,” it said.

Britain is one of only five officially recognised nuclear-armed countries. Four submarines equipped to carry nuclear missiles – the Vanguard, Victorious, Vigilant and Vengeance – are based in deep-water lochs along the west coast of Scotland, and concrete missile storage bunkers are built into the Scottish hillside. At least one of the four is always at sea……. If Scotland votes to break away, Britain would face a huge, expensive and time-consuming task to relocate the system.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed on Thursday it currently has no contingency plan…….Keith Brown, a minister in the devolved Scottish government, called the current nuclear programme a “huge waste of money” and said an independent Scotland would focus its military efforts differently.

“An independent Scotland can halt the disproportionate cuts to our defence footprint and deliver the defence jobs, the equipment and the security that Scotland needs,” he said…..http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/19133473/uk-nuclear-arms-backup-plan-urgent-ahead-of-scottish-vote-lawmakers/

September 28, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | UK, weapons and war