Call for inquiry into effect of Scottish defence cuts

It is feared RAF Lossiemouth could yet be closed down

The effect of defence cuts in Scotland should be the focus of an inquiry, it has been claimed.

The call follows last year's defence review which signalled the end of RAF Kinloss and left the future of RAF Lossiemouth, both in Moray, in doubt.

SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson said thousands of defence jobs had been lost across Scotland in the past decade.

He said there were "crucial questions" to be answered.

The Moray MP, in a letter to the Commons Defence Committee, wrote: "Scotland has endured mammoth defence cuts over the last decade, and all the evidence suggests that the Ministry of Defence is set to continue the trend of concentrating defence manpower, basing and spending in the south of England.

"Scotland has seen a severe defence shortfall and contraction which cannot continue."

He added: "In my own Moray constituency the closure of RAF Kinloss and the threatened closure of RAF Lossiemouth have been a hammer blow for the economy."

There have also been recent reports that RAF Leuchars in Fife could close to allow RAF Lossiemouth in Moray to stay open.

However the Ministry of Defence has consistently described reports about decisions on specific closures as speculation.