► Workers face job cuts at rocket range
Labour's rural economy spokesperson, Rhoda Grant, has expressed concern over plans to cut jobs at the South Uist rocket range.
It is understood 19 islanders face their posts being abolished and replaced with merged roles.
The figure represents about 21% of the nearly 90 people working for QinetiQ on the island.
Rhoda Grant said: "This is deeply worrying news. These jobs are vital for the economy and the future prospects of the area. "
Mrs Grant said QuinetiQ has sought to reduce its UK workforce of 6,210 by about 200.
This is not the first time jobs at the base have been under threat.
She said: "In 2009, the UK government proposed job cuts at the range and its associated sites in the islands however that plan was thankfully abandoned after a strong fight by the Hebrides Range Task Force."
At that time, the proposal was to cut 125 jobs as part of a wider programme of defence savings aimed at reducing MoD costs by £40 million.
Mrs Grant said: "The MP was aware then of the proposals to cut these jobs and did nothing. I want to know what he knows about these latest proposed cuts and what he is going to do to ensure these jobs don't go from the islands.
"The SNP is centralising jobs right, left and centre -
“I will be speaking to the Comhairle, to Storas Uibhist and to Cllr Donnie Steele, all of whom were heavily involved with the Hebrides Range Task Force previously.”
Labour hits out at South Uist jobs threat
28 July 2016