Sub dismantling compensation call

More than a dozen nuclear submarines need to be scrapped

Plymouth should be given compensation if it is awarded a controversial government contract to dismantle nuclear submarines, according to an MP.

Gary Streeter, the Conservative MP for South West Devon, said the city should be given some kind of financial reward.

Mr Street will be attending a meeting later with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to discuss the matter.

The government said no decision has yet been made and Plymouth was one of a number of potential sites.

There has been speculation Devonport could be awarded the dismantling contract as a "sweetener" if the decision was taken to move frigates to Portsmouth and submarines to Faslane.

'Nuclear graveyard'

There are currently about 12 redundant submarines which need to be dismantled.

In April, retired Rear Adm Mike Wood, who was head of fleet maintenance at Plymouth and still works as a military advisor, told BBC News even if Devonport was given the nuclear submarine dismantling work, the base would become a dockyard facility.

Prof Peter Gripaios, a business expert from the University of Plymouth, has warned the local economy would be devastated if the surface fleet and submarines were moved.

Mr Streeter said it would not be much of a "sweetener" if Plymouth became a "nuclear graveyard".