QinetiQ rocket ranges - the submissions
I have been very impressed with the quality of the submissions submitted in support of the Uist range from the Council, the local political parties, and by Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
There are many excellent observations, suggestions for improvements and ideas for taking the range forward, all of which are worthy of deeper consideration.
The HIE submission, however, highlights the restrictions placed on their assessment by the failure of the MOD/QinetiQ to provide the necessary economic information for a proper assessment to be made. That is worrying; and is perhaps an indication of a deliberate attempt to ensure that the full picture is not available to those making the case for retention.
HIE also make the clear point that a proper Green Book economic assessment of the situation needs to be undertaken before any decision is made.
If I understand the process correctly:
The real arguments over loss of testing capacity, reduced accuracy, and control issues with reliance on a single bandwidth are aimed directly at the initial decision.
Whilst it might be entertaining to see Labour and the SNP trying to knock lumps out of each other, they both managed to do so without losing sight of or overshadowing the key issues, which is something to be grateful for.
Sadly, this campaign started a year too late as Angus MacNeil MP sat on the information he received about the proposals until even after the last minute. That has undoubtedly dramatically weakened the Task Force submission and the HIE assessment, and we just hope it does not prove to be a fatal blow.
There are many excellent observations, suggestions for improvements and ideas for taking the range forward, all of which are worthy of deeper consideration.
The HIE submission, however, highlights the restrictions placed on their assessment by the failure of the MOD/QinetiQ to provide the necessary economic information for a proper assessment to be made. That is worrying; and is perhaps an indication of a deliberate attempt to ensure that the full picture is not available to those making the case for retention.
HIE also make the clear point that a proper Green Book economic assessment of the situation needs to be undertaken before any decision is made.
If I understand the process correctly:
- The MOD as the budget holder take a decision on what is to happen
- Then the Cabinet Secretary or Chancellor produces an overall economic assessment/impact study to look at the wider implications
- The final decision is then taken in this context
The real arguments over loss of testing capacity, reduced accuracy, and control issues with reliance on a single bandwidth are aimed directly at the initial decision.
Whilst it might be entertaining to see Labour and the SNP trying to knock lumps out of each other, they both managed to do so without losing sight of or overshadowing the key issues, which is something to be grateful for.
Sadly, this campaign started a year too late as Angus MacNeil MP sat on the information he received about the proposals until even after the last minute. That has undoubtedly dramatically weakened the Task Force submission and the HIE assessment, and we just hope it does not prove to be a fatal blow.
8 comments:
One can only marvel at the extraordinary blindness of a party that issues a statement like this.
“Labour is trying to develop a ridiculous argument that the SNP Member of Parliament for Na-h-Eileanan an Iar knew what Labour were going to do before Labour did.'
Any reading of Labour's initial statement shows this to be untrue. It only claims that members of the Western Isles Labour Party did not know of these cuts. There is a distinction here between national government - which has a wider remit and responsibility than the Western Isles constituency - and their representatives in the immediate area.
Rather incredibly, the SNP claims that Mr MacNeil would have needed 'telepathy' in order to know what was intended to occur at the base.
Sorry? Even if the MP had suffered from an unusual hearing complaint, he could still have read the lips of those he was paid a considerable sum of money to listen to.
Can I on behalf of the staff at the Range say how we all really appreciate the efforts to write a submission to the MoD for their Consultation. The Task Force has done a great job and is well led by local activists and leaders - and the comhairle is doing all in its powers to reinforce what is a great case. Lastly, we agree with your line about Mr MacNeil. We are relieved that he's being kept in the background. A resounding thanks from all at the Range.
MacNeil gets away with it because the Stornoway Gazette and BBC Radio nan Gaidheal are both wholly owned SNP subsdiaries which will never ask him difficult questions.
9.44
surely if the local new labour party had any backbone at all theyd be pretty p###ed off at not being informed.
If theyd any integrity theyd condemn their masters for imposing these cuts.
It is them and ONLY them (new labour) that want to cut the jobs.
Ive had bowel movements with more spine than the new labour lot....
And your evidence that MacNeil knew before the rest of the world has still not been produced. Until then kindly avoid the MacNeil bashing and focus on solutions.
MacNeill had to be the contact as he is the elected MP for the consituency. There would be a clear breach of procedure if it were otherwise.
I hope the crass entry at 9.44 does not speak for everyone in the local SNP. Some of them care more for their community than for blind allegiance and they too should be calling the MP to account for his lack of action over the past year. They should also tell him to stop issuing semi-literate press releases that only make matters worse.
Re 1.30 pm
Clearly MacNeil isn't leading by example in this case, calling for Jim Murphy's resignation before any decision has been reached.
http://www.politics.co.uk/news/foreign-policy/scottish-secretary-faces-calls-for-resignation-$1320390.htm
One could argue that he sees splashing mud onto others as being a good way of trying to get out of the manure he's landed those working at the Base in.
Surely a full statement is called for - and for once, he should avoid his usual tactics of only speaking to 'friendly' newspapers. Cameron speaks to the Guardian; Calum Macdonald gave statements to the Gazette (for all they often maligned him.)
Time for him to speak to his own political opponents in the local press. The situation warrants something more than his usual, fireside chat with Donnie.
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