MSP Jackie Baillie has called for a debate at the Scottish Parliament to oppose the privatisation of the Ministry of Defence Guard Service, which employs staff at Faslane and Coulport.
Unite the Union has launched a campaign calling on the Conservative Government to scrap plans to privatise the service, which provides security at over 100 high-profile military sites across the UK.
The service was established in 1992 in response to the loss of 11 lives in the 1989 terrorist attack on a Royal Marine Depot in Deal – this had raised concerns regarding the site security that had been partly provided by private contractors.
The MoD Guard Service It employs over 2000 civil servants across the UK, including staff based at Faslane and Coulport.
It is believed that Ministers in London will make a decision on whether to continue with the proposals around the end of this.
Jackie Baillie has written to the Defence Secretary, Michael Fallon MP, urging him to drop the plans and laid down a motion at the Scottish Parliament calling for cross-party support to stop the privatisation of the service.
She said: “The MoD Guard Service performs a vital role to protect civilians, service personnel and their families based at Faslane and Coulport.
“The 2,000 civil servants in the service are highly motivated and receive specialist in-house training at a level which does not compare to private security companies.
“I am working alongside local staff and their trade union representatives to defend their interests and I hope other MSPs will join me in calling for a debate in the Scottish Parliament.
“The security of nuclear sites across the UK is too important to be auctioned off to the lowest bidder and the Tory Government should drop the plans immediately.”
Save the MGS !