Shipyards' 'wake-up call' at BAE job losses

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said the news of job losses at shipyards on the Clyde is "a wake-up call" for the entire shipbuilding industry:

"Even with the Type 26 contracts on the Clyde, it is facing a major downsizing. We cannot have a shipbuilding industry that is solely dependent on navel procurement".

Ms Sturgeon told BBC News the decision to build the navy contracts to Scotland was not based on politics but economics:

"The reason for building the Type 26 frigates on the Clyde is that is it the best place to build them because of the investment in those yards, because of the skills mix, it is the value-for-money decision".

BAE Systems had earlier announced the loss of hundreds of jobs at sites in Govan, Scotstoun, Filton and Portsmouth.