The Government has committed £6 billion to building three floating docks for HM Naval Base Clyde at Faslane in the UK, saying the work will support thousands of jobs and strengthen domestic defence industry. The announcement was made at Labour’s conference as part of a wider push to use defence spending to support British manufacturing.

The contract’s location has not been decided: Methil shipyard in Fife, now owned by Spain’s Navantia, is among the potential sites, but a procurement process must take place. Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said he was optimistic about opportunities for Scottish yards and was discussing the issue privately. Separately, Rolls-Royce plans to invest £300 million across plants in Derby, Bristol, Glasgow and Rotherham.