MORAY MP CONFIRMS DEFENCE LEAK TO BE RAISED IN PARLIAMENT

For Immediate Release – Friday 22 October 2010

Attn:     NEWS DESKS
            POLITICAL CORRESPONDENTS

FUTURE OF RAF LOSSIEMOUTH AT STAKE - ALSO COMMENTS ON SUB GROUNDING

Moray MP and Westminster SNP leader Angus Robertson MP has confirmed
he is to raise a leaked defence document in the House of Commons on
Monday which states that Tornado forces are to be centralised at RAF
Marham in Norfolk.

The information is contrary to assurances by Prime Minister David
Cameron and Scottish Secretary Michael Moore, who have claimed that no
decisions have been taken.

The defence document leaked to Mr Robertson states that: "Tornado
Bases - Fleet to be centralised along with the aircrafts depth
maintenance at RAF Marham by 31/10/11 TBC".

It is widely reported that only one of the two current Tornado bases,
RAF Lossiemouth or RAF Marham will survive current UK government cuts.

Speaking about the leaked defence document Mr Robertson said:

"UK Ministers are saying one thing while the complete opposite is
emerging from the Ministry of Defence.

"I hope that Prime Minister David Cameron and Scottish Secretary
Michael Moore are being straight with Moray and Scotland when they say
that no decision has been taken.

"The military ordering democratically elected decision-makers around
is what happens in a banana republic and shouldn't happen here.

"If London ministers withdraw the RAF from Lossiemouth they will have
cut service numbers in Scotland by more than 25% and would compound
the disaster for Moray following their daft decision to close RAF
Kinloss.”

Speaking about the grounding of a nuclear submarine off Skye Angus
Robertson said:

"The grounding of a nuclear submarine off Skye is a serious issue and
raises concerns about a lack of vital cover normally provided by
Nimrod aircraft.

"Journalists are reporting that US P3 Maritime Reconnaissance aircraft
are having to operate from Scotland to cover the gaps that Nimrod used
to fill. If true, this exposes the folly of David Cameron's decision
to scrap the Nimrod MRA4 program and close RAF Kinloss.”

ENDS