The Ministry of Defence does not produce estimates of jobs in the defence industry in Scotland. However, according to Scottish Development International, the aerospace, defence and marine industry in Scotland employs nearly 40,000 staff, with the defence sector employing around 12,600 people.

The UK Government is clear that Scotland benefits from being part of the UK and the UK benefits from having Scotland within it. The UK Government is not making plans for independence as we are confident that people in Scotland will continue to support Scotland remaining within the UK.

In the event of independence, companies based in an independent Scottish state would no longer be eligible for contracts that the UK is able to place or compete domestically for national security reasons; and where they could continue to compete they would be competing for business in an international market.

The Scottish Government needs to set out clearly how independence would benefit the Scottish economy, Scottish jobs and the Scottish people. It has failed to do this so far.