Labour Government to make £250m Faslane investment to boost nuclear deterrent
The cash will be part of the Chancellor's Spending Review.
The Labour Government is set to make a £250m investment in the Scottish naval base housing the UK 's nuclear submarines.
The cash for Faslane is part of Chancellor Rachel Reeves' spending review, which she will lay out today.
She is also expected to unveil £750m for a super-computer at Edinburgh University and release funding for a carbon capture project.
A key part of the spending plan is increased funding for public services like the NHS, generating extra resources for Holyrood.
She is also preparing to plough £113bn into infrastructure projects such as defence.
One of the winners will be HM Naval Base Clyde - commonly known as Faslane - which houses the UK's nuclear subs.
Defence Secretary John Healey said: 'We have an unwavering commitment to our nuclear-powered submarines. The long-term, sustained investment for HMNB Clyde will provide the infrastructure necessary to keep our submarines maintained and at sea - continuing to protect us around the clock.
'This funding, and the continued dedication and skill of the men and women that help build and operate our submarines, will ensure we are able to meet the threats we face, while supporting the Plan for Change and showing how defence is an engine for growth, creating good jobs across Scotland.'
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said: "This extra £250 million investment for HMNB Clyde is another fantastic example of how Scotland is at the heart of the UK defence policy.
"As home of the Royal Navy Submarine Service - including the UK's nuclear deterrent - HMNB Clyde will play a crucial role for decades to come as we restore Britain's readiness, deter our adversaries and help drive economic growth across the UK, as part of our Plan for Change.
"Over 6,500 military and civilian personnel are employed at HMNB Clyde, making it the second largest employment site in Scotland, with a total of around 25,600 jobs across Scotland supported by an annual multi-billion pound Ministry of Defence investment."
Backing the supercomputer with £750m will also reverse a decision to suspend funding for the same project in the early days of the Labour Government.
Business and academics say the project is vital for driving the UK's AI industry.
Reeves is also expected to back development funding for the carbon capture project in Aberdeenshire.
The Acorn Project based in St Fergus would take greenhouse gas emissions and store them under the North Sea. It has been on the reserve list of funding for years and calls have been made to kickstart the initiative.
Speaking ahead of her announcement in the Commons, Reeves said her spending review will be about 'making working people better off'.
The Chancellor said the Government is 'making Labour choices' and 'making progress' in an address to the GMB Union Congress in Brighton on Tuesday.
She said: 'I know that not enough working people are yet feeling that progress, and that's what tomorrow's spending review is all about – making working people better off, investing in our security, investing in our health, investing in our economy. This Government is going for growth because that is the best way to create jobs, boost wages, lift people out of poverty, and sustainably fund our schools and our hospitals and all the public services we rely on.
'And we're doing things differently, because unlike the Tories, I don't think that the only good thing that a government can do is get out of the way.'
Reeves is now under pressure to reverse course on cuts to incapacity and disability benefits.
The Chancellor said the current system is 'not sustainable' and that reforms aimed to get those who can work back into work.
The reforms include plans to tighten the eligibility criteria for personal independence payments, known as Pip.
SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn MP said: "The real test of the UK spending review will be whether the Labour government abandons its devastating austerity cuts to disabled people, and finally takes the bold action needed to eradicate child poverty - or whether the Chancellor ploughs ahead with billions of pounds of cuts to hard-pressed households.
"This is a test of values. Voters were promised change but the cost of living is sky-high, poverty is soaring to record levels on Keir Starmer's watch - and Labour Party austerity cuts are making things even worse. Unless the Chancellor changes course, more families will fall into deprivation and destitution as a direct result of Labour government failure.'
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