UK government policy

Defence and national security are reserved matters which are the responsibility of the UK parliament and reserved matters are set out in schedule 5 of the Scotland Act 1998.^[2] The UK Government claims that Scotland’s geography, and military capabilities is important for the UK and NATO’s defence and security in the North Atlantic and the High North. The UK government identified the following factors that may influence priorities in these regions;

• Increasing Russian hostilities
• Chinese interest in Arctic politics
• New sea routes & traffic (including new routes opened by retreating ice)
• Resource competition
• Vulnerability of offshore and subsea infrastructure e.g 2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage^[3]

The UK Government made a pledge of 12,500 regular armed forces by 2020 which not been meet and has thus been criticised by the Scottish government.^[1][4] The Scottish government argues that Westminster's commitment to nuclear weapons has led to other aspects of Scottish defence weakened and that Trident renewal will reduce funding for conventional equipment and the number service personnel. They also claim that "cost overruns are endemic and major projects have been significantly delayed" and uses the example of two aircraft carriers built before availability of aircraft for them.^[5]

Policy

The UK government views the UK's defence as being "stronger and safer" with cooperative Scottish participation in the combined defence and security of the UK.^[8] The UK government claims for 2021/22 that defence spending per capita was £370 in Scotland and £310 for the whole of the UK.^[9]

First minister Humza Yousaf has said that an independent Scotland would aim to maintain 2% GDP defence spending to meet the NATO target.^[10][11]

Policy

In 2021, UK defence secretary Ben Wallace made a committed that the number of battalions stationed in Scotland would increase from six to seven units and that the army in Scotland would be a "greater proportion of the Army than today". He

also said that Kinloss and Leuchars bases would be expanded.^[13]

Redford barracks is set to close in 2029 and Fort George is set to close in 2032 as part of the UK government's Future Soldier plan.^[14][15]

The Black Watch battalion will relocate from Fort George barracks to Leuchars (both in Scotland) in 2029. This would mean closure of Fort George in 2029 rather than 2032 as originally planned and the return of the Black Watch to the traditional recruiting area of Tayside.^[16]

Scottish units

• Headquarters, 51st Infantry Brigade and Headquarters Scotland^[17]
• Royal Scots Dragoon Guards^[17]
• Scottish and North Irish Yeomanry
• Royal Regiment of Scotland:^[17] (Highland Fusiliers, Black Watch, Highlanders, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 52nd Lowland Volunteers, 51st Highland Volunteers)
• 105th Regiment Royal Artillery^[18]
• 32 Signal Regiment^[19]
• 154 (Scottish) Regiment RLC^[20]
• 71 Engineer Regiment (United Kingdom)^[21]

Barracks

• Edinburgh Castle - the army is responsible for the Barrack Block, GOC/Officers Mess, Royal Scots Headquarters, Royal Scots Museum, Royal Scots Dragoon Guards Museum, The Gunners house, Army Education Centre, Guardroom (part-shared with Historic Scotland).^[24]
• Kinloss Barracks^[25]
• Glencorse Barracks^[14]
• Dreghorn Barracks^[26]
• Cameron Barracks^[27]
• Leuchars Station^[28]
• Fort George, Highland (set to close in 2032)^[15][14]
• Redford Barracks (set to close in 2029)^[14]

Operations and policy

Faslane naval base

The Clyde naval base (Faslane) houses the nuclear-armed Vanguard 15 class submarines that form the "At-Sea Nuclear Deterrent". The base also houses the Astute Class of attack submarines and a frigate acting as a Towed Array Patrol ship operates that protect Trident-equipped submarines and perform anti-submarine activities.^[3]

Due to retreat of arctic ice, it is possible that maritime activity in the High North will increase with a further emphasis on navy activities from Scotland. This is made more likely by Russian emphasis on arctic naval activity.^[3]

Bases & establishments

• HMNB Clyde (Faslane)^[33] including RNAD Coulport^[34] headed by Naval Base Commander, Commodore Sharon Malkin^[35]
• RM Condor^[36]
• HMS Dalriada^[37]
• British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre (BUTEC)^[38]
• HMS Caledonia & HMS Scotia^[39]
• University Royal Naval Unit East Scotland^[40]
• University Royal Naval Unit Glasgow^[41]

• RAF Tain^[42]

Operations and policy

Air force assets in Scotland operate in defence of the North Atlantic and the High North via; surveillance, anti-submarine warfare and Quick Reaction Alert jets from Lossiemouth base, which is the primary air base in Scotland.^[3] The Air Officer Scotland is Air-Vice Marshall Ross Paterson.^[43]

Stations

• RAF Kirknewton^[44]
• RAF Lossiemouth^[44] including: No. 1 Squadron RAF, No. 2 Squadron RAF, No. 6 Squadron RAF, No. 8 Squadron RAF, No. 9 Squadron RAF, No. 51 Squadron RAF, No. 120 Squadron RAF, No. 201 Squadron RAF, No. 2622 Squadron RAuxAF Regiment, 4 RAF Police Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Service, Tain Air Weapons Range^[45]

Bases

• RRH Benbecula^[42]
• RRH Buchan^[42]
• RAF Saxa Vord^[42]
• Leuchars Diversion Airfield^[42] army barracks with RAF stations)^[28]
• RAF Lossiemouth^[42]
• RAF Prestwick^[42]

Policy

The Scottish government's policy on supporting veterans has included:

• The appointment of the first-ever Scottish Veterans Commissioner in 2014
• A Scottish Government Armed Forces Advocate, and expansion of the Scottish Armed Forces and Veterans Champions network
• Over £1 million in direct support for projects and organisations that support veterans^[48]