Minister faces youth demo over islands' MoD job cuts

THE defence minister Quentin Davies will today face a demonstration by young islanders protesting at planned jobs cuts at a weapons testing range in the Outer Hebrides.

The Ministry of Defence and contractor QinetiQ unveiled plans in June to restructure the base in South Uist, Benbecula and St Kilda which could see the loss of 125 jobs.

Mr Davies plans to visit St Kilda today and tomorrow will meet with members of a task force set up to fight the proposals.

A group of youngsters aged between ten and 21, mostly children of staff who could lose their jobs, plans to hold a protest when the minister arrives in Benbecula this morning.

One of the group said: "This would be disastrous to the community and the islands economy. The young people are going to have their point of view on the matter heard.

"Children don't want their parents to lose their jobs or their community destroyed. We feel very strongly about this matter, and will do our best, as the young people, and the future of the islands, to make sure the minister knows what he'll be doing by cutting those jobs, other than saving the MOD a few pounds."