Overview

• Defence Secretary John Healey will confirm the £2.5 million support in his Labour conference speech in Liverpool.
• Ministers say the UK Government worked with Scottish Labour and Rolls‑Royce to keep the £11 million Welding Development Facility on track.
• Rolls‑Royce, Malin Group and the University of Strathclyde are leading the centre, which is intended to train the next generation of welders and support defence supply chains.
• The move follows a £10 billion deal reported for Type 26 frigates to be built on the Clyde for Norway, reinforcing demand for skilled shipbuilding work.
• The Scottish Government says Scottish Enterprise received no formal application from Malin, as debate continues over the SNP’s reversed funding policy and its new eligibility conditions.