JUST when you thought it was safe to go down by the riverside you find the big guns are battling royally (Order row threatens Clyde jobs, Jan 25).
This is a difficult one to resolve. There are considerations on both sides and it would be churlish for us, even though we are on the Clyde, to dismiss Vospers out of hand. They need work, too, and there is a strong case for sharing orders among all of Britain's yards.
However, even though I would have argued for such a case, there are strong points to BAE Systems' case that mean we have to sit down and think this through most carefully and ask ourselves what we want.
If we want economies to be made in defence procurement then the BAE Systems plan makes perfect sense. The Clyde yards are a short distance apart, they between them have all the facilities and skills required to build these ships, and it would give the Clyde the security it has long sought.
If economies of scale don't interest us, then the orders should be split fairly. There can be no argument there if fairness is our only justification. Vospers' argument is not based on fairness, though, it is in the name of competition. So now we have to think deeper, and this is where the arguments become truly muddled.
OK, so let us have competition as our
reasoning force. Do Vospers truly believe they can compete with BAE Systems and the two Clyde yards? Doubtful. Already they are struggling and even they have admitted they could not complete one of the ships on time given their present difficulties. A cruel comment perhaps, but true none the less.
So are Vospers throwing spanners in for the sake of it? We can understand their frustration, but in a world that is cruel (the Clyde can vouch for this) then the fittest and strongest survive. Competition isn't about fairness, so the battle looks set to be won by the strongest victors. Right now that looks like BAE Systems.
Meantime, though, it creates confusion, despair, and fear. Confusion over an already complicated and thoroughly exasperating procurement system, based on economic ideology rather than sensible planning. Despair as once again we have to consider job losses and the desperate ''gap-plugging'' routine. Fear as families wonder where the axe may fall next.
All in all, Vospers are right to be angry. Yes the procurement system should be different. However, it is not. And BAE Systems are only doing what any other business would do and that is capitalise on their investments and seek the best possible solution for them, their shareholders, and workforce.
It is a cruel world. However, the cruelty is only truly felt by the people on the yard floor and offices of the shipyards themselves. The MoD should sort this out as quickly as possible. The workers don't deserve all this nonsense.
Bruce Biddulph,
7 Rupert Street,
Glasgow.
