A defence expert has warned the navy is in denial over Scottish independence.
His comments come a day after Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said he was not looking for an alternate to Faslane as the home of the UK's nuclear deterrent.
Francis Tusa, giving evidence to the Lords Economic Affairs Committee investigating the potential implications of Scottish independence, said: "My understanding is that the Royal Navy is absolutely, catastrophically scared that if independence comes to pass, they will be thrown a hospital pass and be told 'you must pay for it'.
"It's why at the moment they are keeping their heads not down below the parapet but many, many fathoms below."
Asked if the UK Government should have a plan B in case of independence, Mr Tusa, editor of Defence Analysis, replied: "Yes".
He added: "If this was practically any other navy, Army or air force assessment, they would be setting up a risk committee to run through every aspect to make sure they didn't just have 'plan B', but a 'plan C' and 'plan D'."
Mr Tusa also said he would be "horrified" by the possibility of Faslane remaining a "treaty port" after independence.
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