DEFENCE SECRETARY Michael Fallon announced yesterday the building of a new fleet of navy frigates will begin next summer after months of delays.

Announcing the news on a visit to the BAE Systems shipyard in Glasgow, Mr Fallon told workers that the “growing defence budget” meant the Westminster government had “reached agreement in principle with BAE Systems to turn our Type 26 ambition into reality and invest in the most advanced combat ships on the planet.”

But Mr Fallon said that the investment was “on the basis that Scotland will be staying in the United Kingdom.”