Scottish Independence: the case for their Defence

[LotusOmega375D]

The recent F35 correspondence on here has got me thinking.

Is there any inter-Party agreement on what happens to the UK armed forces and their equipment in the event of a "Yes" vote to independence on 18 September 2014. That's only 18 months away, which in Defence terms is next week!

The population of Scotland makes up 9% of the total UK population (although their proportion of service personnel may be higher), so would we somehow pro rata them out accordingly.

Apparently the SNP wants one air-base, one naval-base and some sort of mobile army. They don't want Trident or its successor.

[yellowjack]

Hah! The bill to the MOD would be huge, if the Army needed to march back south of the border. They've been busy selling off prime building land down in the south of England and shipping the troops out to old airfields in Scotland in an effort to liquidise some of their assets and fill the holes in the budget. The sites they freed up down south will no longer be there to occupy, and in the main they were vacated due to being too expensive to bring the accommodation blocks up to modern standards anyway.

Another question. What happens when/if an aggressor nation decides to ignore Scottish sovereignty and overflies the highlands on the way to attack the UK? Defence strategic planning has, up to now, been heavily dependant on Scottish RAF bases for the defence of the realm.

Also. If they do get their independence, will UK troops based in Scotland be classed as 'serving abroad' and therefore be entitled to claim even more allowances to offset the cost of living?

These things need thrashing out before hasty decisions are made.

Anyone know what happened/is happening to the Hunter (gate guardian) and the small aviation museum at Waterbeach in Cambridgeshire? I know that 39 Engr Regt are now at Kinloss, but I'm not certain that the barracks at Waterbeach is empty yet. There were a number of admin and minor units 'lodging' at 'The Beach' last time I visited (2005/2006).

[Simpo Two]

I think that although Salmond campaigned on an independence ticket, now that he's actually in a position to push the button, he'll pull back. It got him to power and that's what he really wanted. So no doubt the referendum will be a load of diluted hogwash just like the EU one we never got.

[Ginetta G15 Girl]

yellowjack said:

Anyone know what happened/is happening to the Hunter (gate guardian) and the small aviation museum at Waterbeach in Cambridgeshire?

The Hunter was only ever loaned to Waterbeach. It was/is owned by the IWM and is supposed to go to Duxford (if it already hasn't).

The Aviation Museum (in the old Guardroom building) is to remain in situ but 'in storage' for the foreseeable future, although certain assets were given to the FAWNAPS Aviation Museum in Wisbech last year. Local funding has been sourced and the Trustees are currently looking for an alternative location.

[yellowjack]

Ginetta G15 Girl said:

The Hunter was only ever loaned to Waterbeach. It was/is owned by the IWM and is supposed to go to Duxford (if it already hasn't).

The Aviation Museum (in the old Guardroom building) is to remain in situ but 'in storage' for the foreseeable future, although certain assets were given to the FAWNAPS Aviation Museum in Wisbech last year. Local funding has been sourced and the Trustees are currently looking for an alternative location.

Thanks!

Aviation Museum Trustees seek funding? Another philanthropic project to benefit from my Euromillions win tonight