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Trident Alternatives Review and the future of Barrow

final report

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Barrow and Trident Alternatives Review

• Unique town of considerable contrasts

• 5,000 currently employed by BAE Systems

• TAR due to report on options other than “like for like” replacement for Trident

• Other “threats” to like for like replacement

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Successor employment profile

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Question 1: Impact

• No “binary” future but no illusions either of the severity of the impact of any reduction in jobs

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Question 2: Options• Diversification & regeneration not easy but possible

• Shipbuilding is the first and natural choice

• Could there be a “Scottish windfall”?

• Other opportunities: advanced manufacturing/ maritime, environmental and renewable technologies (£100bn market)/nuclear decommissioning (£90bn market)

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Question 3: Regeneration previously

• Diversification & regeneration are not new concepts within Barrow

• Some initiatives have worked well, others not so well

• It has been difficult to secure transformational projects

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Question 4:Government support

• The buck stops with the Government

• Commitment needs to be guaranteed, sustained and immediate PLUS need analysis, strategic planning, funding and leadership

• European funding could be critical component of Government financial support but at least £100m needed for every 1,000 jobs lost

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Successor cost profile

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Question 5: Wider support• BAE Systems has responsibility to look to long

term interest of employees

• Barrow to be included as a key player within Energy Coast

• There is a key role for wide range of partner organisations

• The community also needs to be fully engaged

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Question 6: Regeneration successes

• BRAC programme is most relevant to Barrow

• There are other relevant examples: Finland, Freiberg and Newcastle (New South Wales)

• UK’s record on regeneration and need for anticipation

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Conclusions & Recommendations

1.The Government should make a clear and binding statement of its responsibility to Barrow in the event that military procurement decisions are changed.

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2.A decision to proceed with an option other than a like for like replacement the Government must provide immediate, sustained and considerable support which should include regeneration funding at £100 million for every 1,000 jobs lost to the local economy.

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3.The Government should take early action now:commission a joint BIS/MoD/DfT study regards

economic options for Barrow and its supply chain including transport infrastructure improvements

remove arbitrary boundary re Energy Coast so that Barrow is included within those areas and organisations are therefore eligible for Nuclear Decommissioning Agency funding

consider Enterprise Zone for Barrow to encourage inward investment and relocation

support proposals that would provide Cumbria with transitional funding from European Structural Funds

encourage BAE Systems to look to diversification

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4.The Trident Alternatives Review should be made public by the Coalition with the least number of redactions as possible and, if it is not, then before the “Maingate” decision is taken in 2016 it should either be published by the Government at that time or a new review should be commissioned.

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Responses from • John Woodcock MP for Barrow and Furness

• Sir Nick Harvey MP, former Defence Minister

• Paul Nowak, Head Organisation and Services, TUC

• Daniel Blaney, Vice Chair CND

followed by Q&A, comments and discussion