Leader: Scots military tradition will survive with vigour

SCOTLAND has long played a proud and important role in the UK's national defence planning and preparation. Scottish naval, aircraft and army bases have been central to our security operations while defence-related activity has grown to become an important contributor to Scotland's economic health and well-being. So any diminution of that structure is of consequence to the country as a whole.

The long-awaited statement by Defence Minister Liam Fox to the Commons yesterday brought confirmation of a major shake-up in which Leuchars in Fife will cease to be an RAF base, breaking a long and honourable association with our airborne defence capability, with Lossiemouth in Moray left as Scotland's only such site. RAF Leuchars will become an army base, with its Typhoons leaving for Lossiemouth in 2013 and the army starting to move in later.

This cannot be other than a disappointment for campaigners who had been battling to keep both bases open. But harsh reality can only be staved off for so long. Not only has the UK been in long-term relative decline as a military power, but the present circumstances in which the country finds itself - laden with debt and with an unsustainable budget deficit - have also conspired to make a shrinkage in our defence spending unavoidable. Defence commitments cannot be other than closely linked to resources.

Set against this, however, is the proposal to bring many of the British Army personnel currently stationed in Germany to Leuchars and to Kinloss in Moray. Fort George in Inverness will remain as it is, as the Black Watch base, while in Edinburgh, Craigiehall, Redford and Dreghorn barracks will be sold and a new facility will be built at Kirknewton.

Overall, these reductions were not quite as bad as initially feared. Moreover, the net effect of these changes will be that after 2015 there will be more service personnel stationed in Scotland, and that the country's "defence footprint'' is set to increase by well over 2,000 posts, and with the size of Scotland's army increasing from 3,500 to 8,500. First Minister Alex Salmond's response that while regretting the withdrawal of RAF staff from Leuchars, the announcement "is, broadly speaking, welcome news" shows a recognition that difficult and painful decisions had to be made.

However, in two important areas there is cause for concern. One is that the opportunity was not taken to rationalise the confusing overlap in functions, with both the navy amd RAF retaining what are effectively infantry regiments and the army an air arm. Another is that the the army is ever more dependent on reservists. That has to be cause for question given the continuing threats from terrorist activity and the renewed outbreak of violence in Ulster. The larger question for debate is whether, in an ever-changing geo-political landscape, our borders and airspace are as well defended as they should be.