UK Defence Secretary visits Scotland to inspect shipbuilding and housing

UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting conducted his first visit to Scotland, highlighting the region's strategic importance to national security and the economy. During a tour of Babcock’s Rosyth facility, Streeting inspected the construction of the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigates. The shipbuilding programme currently sustains 2,500 skilled jobs across Scotland and the UK supply chain, including 400 apprenticeships.

In Edinburgh, the Defence Secretary reviewed progress on military housing improvements. The UK government has committed £9 billion over the next decade to a generational renewal of Armed Forces housing, aiming to upgrade, modernise, or rebuild 40,000 military homes. A new Defence Housing Service has also been established to improve property standards and accelerate delivery.

Streeting noted that Scotland remains central to UK defence, hosting nearly 10,000 Armed Forces personnel and critical strategic bases such as RAF Lossiemouth and HMNB Clyde, which play key roles in protecting the North Atlantic.