A Scottish Green MSP has accused the Scottish Government of funding a “bomb-making factory” in Scotland.
Ross Greer raised the issue at First Minister’s Questions at Holyrood.
He said his party had obtained documents via a freedom of information request showing Chemring Energetics had “successfully applied for Scottish Enterprise funding to invest in site expansion to, in their own words, ‘take advantage of market moves that have resulted in gaps in the manufacture of explosives’.
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Ross Greer (Jane Barlow/PA)
Mr Greer said: “The Chemring site in question specialises in components for, again in their own words ‘rocket propulsion systems, release of airborne weapon systems, missile guidance systems, army units and military demolition’.
“The First Minister has repeatedly claimed that the Scottish Government does not fund the manufacture of munitions.
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“Is it seriously her position that funding the expansion of a bomb-making factory is different to funding the direct manufacture of bombs?”
Ms Sturgeon said: “It is absolutely the position that the Scottish Government does not provide funding for the manufacture of munitions either directly or via Scottish Enterprise.
“Support provided is focused on helping firms diversify and develop non-military applications for their technology.
“That is the position of Scottish Enterprise on all companies that apply to it for funding.”
She said she would give Mr Greer more detail in writing regarding the specific company he raised, which applied for funding to expand its site outside Stevenston in North Ayrshire.
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