THE UK Government is ignoring the financial benefits of building new ships on the Clyde, MP’s have warned.

The order for the three Royal Fleet Auxiliary solid support ships is to be put out to international tender.

MPs who want the ships to be build on the Clyde however has told ministers that it makes no financial sense to build them abroad.

Stewart McDonald, Glasgow South SNP MP, Chris Stephens Glasgow South West SNP MP and Paul Sweeney, Glasgow North East MP, made the case for the ships to be built here to help protect Govan and Scotstoun shipyards.

Mr McDonald, said: “The Government are ignoring the real value to the taxpayer, ignoring the craft and the skill of shipbuilders across the UK, and ignoring what is in our own economic, political and national security interests.

“The GMB union estimates that it can create and secure up to 6,500 jobs, including almost 2,000 in shipbuilding directly, that it can generate almost the best part of £300 million a year for the UK Exchequer and it can provide a return of 36p for every pound that is spent.”

Chris Stephens. Glasgow South West MP, said: “Is it not the case that if the fleet solid support ships were built in the UK, 20% of that cost could be recovered by the workers working on those ships paying tax and national insurance?”

Mr Sweeney said that there is a precedent for RFA ships being built in Glasgow to ensure the shipyard retained the capacity and skills needed to fulfil orders further down the line.

He asked the minister Tobias Ellwood, defence minister: “Does he accept that the only reason why Govan shipyard is open today is because a Royal Fleet Auxiliary order for the Wave Ruler was placed there in 1999 to keep the yard open until the Type 45 build could start?