HC Deb 25 January 2000 vol 343 cc176-7W
14. Ms Squire

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with the First Minister on the level of defence-related employment in Scotland. [104940]

Dr. Reid

I am in regular contact with the First Minister on a range of issues including defence-related matters. Total defence-related employment in Scotland, on the most recently available figures, stands at 61,000. Clearly Scotland benefits greatly from defence-related employment.