Wales - First Minister draws a line under nuclear arguement

FIRST MINISTER Carwyn Jones has said that the argument over the potential move of nuclear missile submarines from Scotland to Milford Haven is “entirely academic.”

Mr Jones appeared keen to draw a line under the row which began last month when he suddenly told assembly members that the nuclear missile Vanguard-class submarine fleet and the associated jobs would “be more than welcome” in Milford Haven.

A Welsh Government spokesman later said: “The First Minister recognises the substantial economic benefits of relocating Britain’s nuclear submarines to west Wales.”

That had kick-started heated debate about whether the submarines and their nuclear missiles could or should ever be based in the Haven waterway.

But after weeks of questioning, petitions and rumours of behind-thescenes discontent among the Labour front bench in Cardiff, Mr Jones seemed to want to move on when asked about the issue at First Minister’s questions last week.

“It’s quite clear from the UK Government that the fleet will remain at Faslane, so the issue is now entirely academic,”

Wales Falklands Memorial re-dedicated on the 30th anniversary of the conflict

Wales' Falklands Memorial has been re-dedicated to mark the 30th anniversary of the conflict which saw 32 Welsh Guards among the fallen. The ceremony was part of the Armed Forces Day events in Cardiff and was attended by Falklands’ lawmaker Dick Sawle.

 The monument was created from five tons of Mount Harriet granite rock

The 2012 celebrations coincided with the Falklands anniversary and the 60th anniversary of the Welch Regiment's involvement in the Korean War. A parade to Cardiff Castle included a flypast by an RAF Dakota, but weather prevented a display by the RAF Falcons.

MLA Sawle was among the many British and local politicians attending the memorial re-dedication in Alexandra Gardens on Saturday morning.

The Welsh Guards were among 48 members of the British forces who died when troop ship Sir Galahad was bombed by the Argentines just six days before the 1982 conflicted ended.

The monument was created from five tons of Mount Harriet granite rock, located by veteran Andy “Curly” Jones, from Libanus, near Brecon, Powys.

The 2.1m rock, a gift from Falkland islanders, was shipped more than 13,000 km after three years' work by members of the South Atlantic Medal Association. It bears the names of the three Islanders who died in the conflict in addition to the servicemen who were killed.

The Armed Forces Day flag was already flying at Cardiff Castle following a ceremony last week.

Veterans, cadets and members of the armed forces took take part in the parade on Saturday, watched by hundreds of people on the streets of Cardiff city centre, to commemorate servicemen and women past and present.

Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan said: “Armed Forces Day allows people to reflect upon, and honour the contribution made by all who serve or have served in the British military.

”In Wales, we have a special connection with our armed forces and we owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to those who work tirelessly, often in difficult circumstances, to defend our values and way of life.“

The Welsh government has put £20,000 to Armed Forces Day events in north and south Wales.

First Minister Carwyn Jones said: ”Today is about saying thank you to the members of the armed forces for the work they do in our name.

“Armed Forces Day is an opportunity for all of us to show our appreciation and to recognise the professionalism, commitment and sacrifice our service men and women endure.”

Carwyn Jones: Wales would welcome nuclear submarines

Britain's nuclear-armed submarines would be "more than welcome" in Wales if they left Scotland, First Minister Carwyn Jones has said.

The SNP government in Edinburgh wants the fleet removed from its base on the west coast of Scotland.

At question time in the Senedd, Mr Jones suggested the nuclear deterrent could come to Pembrokeshire if forced to look for a home elsewhere.

But the UK government said it had no plans to move from HM Naval Base Clyde.

This week it awarded a £1.1bn contract for reactor cores.

Missiles

Britain has four Royal Navy Vanguard submarines, based at the Faslane naval base on the Clyde, which can deploy Trident ballistic missiles carrying nuclear warheads.

Quote

“There will be more than a welcome for that fleet and those jobs in Milford Haven” Carwyn Jones First Minister

Mr Jones, who will be in Scotland for a meeting of British and Irish ministers on Friday, was asked about the potential to invest in Welsh ports.

He said: "I did notice the Scottish government no longer wishes to have the nuclear submarine base at Faslane, it no longer wishes to house the UK naval nuclear fleet.

"There will be more than a welcome for that fleet and those jobs in Milford Haven."

Milford Haven is a natural deep water port that handles around a fifth of the UK's energy through oil and gas imports.

At the weekend the Scottish government said it was "firmly committed to the earliest possible withdrawal of Trident from Scotland".

It said independence is the only constitutional option that would give it the power to remove Trident from Scottish waters.

The Welsh government later said Mr Jones's comments had nothing to do with the SNP's referendum on Scottish independence and that he was a "staunch supporter" of the union.

A spokesman said: "The first minister recognises the substantial economic benefits of relocating Britain's nuclear submarine to west Wales.

'Boost'

"There would be more than a welcome in Wales for this kind of economic boost, which would bring thousands of high quality, well paid jobs to the area.

"The first minister is of the view that he would be neglecting his duty to do what he can to boost the Welsh economy he were to dismiss the possibility of bringing these jobs to Wales."

There was an angry response to his suggestion from Plaid Cymru politicians and activists.

Writing on Twitter, Plaid AM Jonathan Edwards said: "This is a hugely significant development.

"Milford is a huge energy portal. LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) and nukes don't go together."

The UK government insists a final decision on replacing the Trident nuclear deterrent will not be taken until 2016 - after the next general election.

The Ministry of Defence says the £1.1bn reactor core contract announced recently secures 300 jobs at Rolls-Royce and will fund an 11-year refurbishment of its plant at Raynesway in Derby.

In response to Mr Jones's suggestion to move the nuclear submarines to Wales, an MoD spokesperson said: "The government is clear that Scotland benefits from being part of the UK and the UK benefits from having Scotland within it.

"No plans for independence are being made as the government is confident that people in Scotland will continue to support the UK in any referendum.

"We are therefore not making plans to move the nuclear deterrent from HM Naval Base Clyde.

"The government is committed to maintaining a continuous submarine-based nuclear deterrent and has begun the work of replacing our existing submarines."