Latest Press Releases
| LOSSIEMOUTH PFI COSTS REINFORCE CASE FOR BASE |
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| Monday, 14 February 2011 00:00 |
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CRIMINAL' FOR MOD TO THROW AWAY £300 million The scale of PFI investment in RAF Lossiemouth reinforces the case for retention of the base, the area's MP said today (Monday) after revealing that almost £287 million has been spent or committed since 2006 on contracts for development of the station. Moray MP Angus Robertson said the figures transformed the terms of the debate on the future of the base. The PFI spending includes £188 million spent or committed to two flight simulators and a further £81 million for service officer-grade housing. Lossiemouth was the only RAF base in Scotland to receive PFI investment. Commenting, Mr Robertson, the SNP Westminster leader, said: “ The PFI costs transform the terms of the debate, and totally reinforce the strategic and economic case for Lossiemouth. “ It would be criminal to throw away almost £300 million of taxpayer's money committed to these contracts, even before considering the wider devastating cost of a double base closure in the country’s most defence dependent community. “ The colossal value of these contracts cannot be removed from the decision that needs to be made on the future of the RAF in Scotland. “ It is now clear that the economic arguments in favour of Lossiemouth are matched by the strategic military case.” |
