5000 Scots shipyard jobs saved as new super warship deal is signed

Jul 4 2008 By Kevin Schofield and Tom Hamilton ALMOST 5000 Scots shipbuilding jobs were secured yesterday when the Government signed a £4billion contract for two Navy supercarriers. Much of the work on the 65,000-tonne ships will be carried out at Govan in Glasgow and Rosyth in Fife. The HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales will be the biggest and most powerful ships ever constructed in the UK. Defence Secretary Des Browne first announced the project last year. But a delay in putting pen to paper on the contract sparked fears it may not go ahead. However, yesterday, the Ministry of Defence confirmed a consortium known as the Aircraft Carrier Alliance had been formed to do the work. And Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth signed the contract at Rosyth. Browne said it was a "historic" occasion. He said: "The two aircraft... [read full story]