ONCE again the local Labour MSP, Jackie Baillie, quotes the misleading figure of 13,000 jobs as being at risk if a new generation of Trident nuclear submarines is built (“Labour in open revolt over new policy to scrap Trident”, The Herald, November 3). And as always she provides no detail of how that figure is made up.

A recent Freedom of Information request disclosed that only 520 local residents are actually employed at Faslane. Although presumably all of these would have to be security cleared, it is likely that most of these jobs are in non-sensitive activities such as catering, buildings maintenance, and other general duties within the site.

The other 12,500 (assuming the total figure is correct) must include the crews of all four of the present submarines, other shore-based naval staff, a myriad of Ministry of Defence and other government employees, together with specialist teams from private contractors responsible for shore-based services and the ongoing repair and maintenance of the submarines. If the Trident base were moved elsewhere, or even if the next generation of submarines was never built, it is likely that most of the navy personnel and skilled technicians would remain in employment.

In any case, is the preservation of any number of jobs a logical reason for public expenditure of £167 billion? For a tiny fraction of that sum every one of them could be paid generous retirement pensions for the rest of their lives.

If protecting jobs is the strongest reason Labour can come up with for continuing to waste public money on such an evil weapon of mass destruction that we expect never to be used, then the sooner it is abandoned the better.

Iain AD Mann,

7 Kelvin Court, Glasgow.

THE decision regarding whether or not to renew Trident should not be affected by jobs. If decisions were made simply to protect jobs then we would still have our streets lit by gas lamps.

The decision has to be made with reference to the effective defence capabilities of the weapons and moral considerations. If a decision is made to remove Trident from our shores then plans must be drawn up with regard to the redeployment of the resources currently tied up in these weapons of mass destruction. It is not a simple matter of cancelling Trident and using the money the build new schools and hospitals. Jobs are a key resource and alternative employment for those currently working with these weapons will have to be arranged.

Ultimately the decision regarding Trident rests with our elected representatives at Westminster. The position with regard to Labour candidates is refreshingly fluid and such individuals should certainly be asked to state whether they are supporting the Scottish or the UK party line. It will be a welcome change if Jeremy Corbyn continues to ignore the party whip in matters of conscience and votes with the Scottish party in rejecting Trident.

We do not vote for political parties to represent us at Westminster. Instead we vote for an individual who we believe is overall most able to represent our views. The political party to which a candidate belongs should be seen merely as an indicator of the individual’s views, rather than a rigid constraint on his or her freedom to vote in parliament as his or her conscience dictates.

Sandy Gemmill,

40 Warriston Gardens,

Edinburgh.

THE decision by the Scottish Labour Party not to support Trident shows a blatant disregard for the welfare and jobs of thousands of people and businesses who either work on the base, or offer support services to the base or to the families of workers at the base.

Around 6,700 people are employed at the base. This is due to rise to 8,200 by 2022.

The loss of jobs at the base will cause a chain reaction, affecting companies that supply the base with everything from complex engineering equipment to toilet paper.

There will also be a detrimental effect on the local housing market

There will be no jobs in Scotland for the engineers who specialise in the many disciplines involved in design and manufacture of submarine systems. You do not retrain an Engineer who is part of a team designing complex electrical, electronic and mechanical systems to repair washing machines.

I fail to understand how a party that can be so passionate about the loss of jobs in the steel industry can have so little regard for loss of thousands of jobs and apprenticeships that form the backbone of cutting edge engineering both in Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom.

Robin Dyos,

Swaffham Road, Burwell, Cambridge.

I WONDER how long it will be before thoughtful Labour supporters in Scotland realise Scotland will not be free of Trident until it is independent? Many perhaps already do and their party is in a complete confusion on the issue. Do they imagine that their recent incoherent Scottish budgetary proposals will take attention away from this? It seems to be all about inventing money that isn’t there and the proposals are unravelling as I write.

Let me see if I have got this straight. I’ve got an electricity bill for £10. But I’ve only got £7. But I was going to have haircut at £4 but I’ll forgo that. That will leave me with a pound extra after I pay the electricity bill. Is that about it?

Dave McEwan Hill,

1 Tom Nan Ragh, Dalinlongart, Sandbank, Argyll.