Shipyards to fight cutbacks

Rosyth is one of four naval bases fearing cutbacks

Workers at Britain's dockyards and naval bases say they will fight any plan to cut their pensions and holidays in return for keeping the sites open.

Union officials are due to meet Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon on Monday amid concern about the lack of work at Devonport, Portsmouth, Rosyth and Faslane yards.

Ministers have said they do not want to close any of the dockyards or bases but they need to find £200m in savings.

Cuts in the size of the fleet over the years mean the Royal Navy has more dockyards than it needs.

Political unacceptability

A combination of military and political pressures on successive governments has made the closure of any of them unacceptable within Whitehall.

Trade unions say they fear the drive to cut costs could mean people will have to accept poorer working conditions in return for keeping their jobs.

They point to a leaked memo from Fleet Support Limited, the private firm running Portsmouth for the Royal Navy.

It shows consideration has been given to cutting workers' holidays and pensions as well as ways of reducing redundancy pay-outs.

The company says no options have been ruled out in the search for savings but it will be some months before plans are finalised.