Shipbuilding remains a vital part of the Scottish economy in 2025, supporting thousands of highly-skilled jobs across the country.
It remains the largest manufacturing industry in Glasgow with yards at Govan and Scotstoun constructing a new generation of frigates for the Royal Navy. There’s guaranteed work that will sustain the industry into the 2030s but in a sector almost entirely reliant on orders being placed by the Ministry of Defence, there is always a degree of uncertainty hanging in the air.
A change of government in Westminster can upend previous long-held assumptions about spending priorities. Paul Sweeney, a former shipyard worker-turned-MSP, is right when he describes the order process as feast or famine for shipyards. Long periods of work can be followed by years of uncertainty and job losses. He wants to see the process between political approval and actual work beginning on new ships – which can take years – to be sped up.
The MSP argues moving away from the boom or bust model is the only way of improving efficiencies and driving down costs. There is no two ways about it, building complex warships costs a lot of money. But in today’s uncertain world, with war continuing to rage on mainland Europe, the UK cannot take its defence for granted. The backbone of our collective security has always been a strong Navy. The UK Government’s defence review is due for publication later this year. It must offer shipyards a clear plan for a brighter future.
Slimming scare
It’s easy to overindulge during the Festive season when celebrating with friends and family.
But with the festivities now finished, many Scots will be thinking about how best to shed some weight in the New Year. While it’s never too late to embrace a healthier lifestyle, medical experts are now warning people to steer clear of quick-fix weightloss jabs being sold online.
There has been an explosion of sales of fake medicine and cosmetic treatments via the internet. The end result is that, too often, people have put their lives in the hands of unqualified quack doctors. Slimming injections can be effective tools for weightloss when used under proper medical supervision.
But ordering jabs from unverified websites is a recipe for disaster. The NHS in Scotland must take heed of the rise in demand for weightloss drugs and make the safest more widely available to those who need them most.
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