Two hundred jobs on the line in defence forecast

THERE are fears for the jobs of staff at the Vulcan nuclear submarine engine-testing establishment at Dounreay.
Junior defence minister, Peter Luff has confirmed that no future use is foreseen for the base after the end of the MoD’s current £360 million contract.
The UK’s future nuclear submarine fleet will not require a shore-based reactor to test the propulsion systems deployed by the vessels which will be serviced by a new generation of pressurised water reactor.
Mr Luff said it has still to be decided if Vulcan will be put on a care and maintenance after 2015 or go into full decommissioning mode which would mean the loss of most of the 200 jobs.