Devonport faces battle for future

Devonport maintains the Royal Navy's submarines

Devonport Dockyard has to prove its long-term benefit to the navy, Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth said on a visit to the Plymouth yard on Monday.

The Ministry of Defence is reviewing the future of Devonport, Portsmouth and Faslane in Scotland.

All three will continue to exist the government said last year, but the details are still being worked out.

On a visit to HMS Trafalgar submarine, Mr Ainsworth said that Devonport had to produce "sustainable" plans.

'Skilled workforce'

Devonport, which maintains, upgrades and fuels the Royal Navy's submarines, is the oldest naval base in Britain and employs more than 4,000 people.

Owners Babcock Marine announced plans last month to axe about 600 jobs over the next year.

Mr Ainsworth said: "We are going to need to make sure that Devonport is sustainable.

"We cannot keep the skilled workforce here unless we have work for them round the year."

There are concerns that frigates at Devonport would move to Portsmouth, but Mr Ainsworth said no decisions had been taken.

He said the issues of what work would stay with the three yards was "enormously complex".

He added that parts of the historic South Yard, much of which is unused, could be opened up for other businesses.