AN organisation that opposes the arms trade is calling for £200 million of government investment to make the west of Scotland a global leader in marine power and to fund this new policy by fewer sales of weaponry. A new report by Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) argues that boosting green industries in the Clyde could be funded by stricter controls on arms exports and could create more than 5,000 jobs. CAAT’s study, which claims to be a blueprint for a greener Scotland – seen by The National and published today by investigative website The Ferret – is called Arms Industry in The Clyde and Renewable Energy Options. It says that £200m of joint funding by the Scottish and UK Governments would equate to roughly half the cost of just one of the Type 26 Frigates built on t he Clyde. CAAT argues that 5,300 jobs could be created by 2020 which could offset any job losses that would come from fewer arms exports to regimes with poor human rights records. The report says that the west coast of Scotland is the best site for wave technology in the UK and there are also tidal range options in the region. According to CAAT, many companies producing arms in the Clyde already make, or have the potential to make, vital parts for developing the wave power industry.
The National 2nd Feb 2016 read more »