Ferguson yard's lifeline contract on Navy Type 26

'Hypocrisy' claims over defence work

- By Ben Borland

FERGUSON Marine has won a contract from BAE Systems to work on one of the Royal Navy’s Type 26 frigates, just days after a committee of MSPs warned its future was in doubt.

Workers at the nationalised shipyard in Port Glasgow will fabricate three structural units for HMS Birmingham, with steel cutting expected to begin imminently.

Last week, a report from a Holyrood committee said Fergusons had no new orders in the pipeline after the MV Glen Rosa - the second of two massively delayed and over-budget ferries for CalMac is completed.

But while the BAE Systems contract was widely welcomed, it has left the SNP facing accusations of “hypocrisy” after ministers blocked funding for a Rolls-Royce specialist welding skills centre.

Mairi Gougeon said the Scottish Government had a “longstanding” and “principled” policy of not providing public funding for companies involved in munitions.