That’s the concern of Dunfermline and Dollar MP Graeme Downie who said a pledge to break up the other vessels would “guarantee decades of work” at the dockyard.
More than 200 people at Rosyth are already working on HMS Swiftsure, it is being cut up and her radioactive waste removed as part of a demonstrator project, and he said the site could become a “worldwide centre of excellence for submarine dismantling”.
Mr Downie said the “whole life cost for the Submarine Dismantling Project is £298m” and later told the Press: “The pilot is just for Swiftsure at the moment.
Dunfermline and Dollar Labour MP, Graeme Downie. (Image: Newsquest) “I want them to commit to dismantling the rest of the subs and my assumption is that would begin with the other six that are at Rosyth.
“But right now there’s no funding attached to that, nor is there any commitment to do that work.
“That’s what I’m really trying to push for, so they’ll commit to the next stage of the SDP and to make sure that’s happening in Rosyth.”
READ MORE: Former crew visit HMS Swiftsure at Rosyth Dockyard
The MP said there are currently 23 laid up nuclear subs – seven have been tied up on the Forth for decades with the remainder at Devonport in Plymouth – and another three will come out of service.
HMS Swiftsure in the Clyde in 1991. Mr Downie said the nuclear sub played a vital role in the Cold War. (Image: Submarine Delivery Agency) The cost of maintaining them is almost £9m a year.
READ MORE: Dunfermline MP calls for specialist Rosyth base to dismantle subs
Mr Downie said more than 90 per cent of Swiftsure will be recycled when the pilot is completed next year.
He went on: “The commitment would guarantee the jobs that are there but it would also mean additional jobs as they could take on more people to do the subs more quickly.
“Having spoken to Babcock they’ve told me they could do up to two at a time in the same dock.
“Each sub takes years to do properly and safely so we would certainly begin with the subs at Rosyth but the key thing is to get them to commit to the next stage.
“The benefit for Rosyth, apart from the jobs, is that it would guarantee decades of work dismantling submarines and that would allow Babcock to invest in facilities on the site as well.”
READ MORE: Over £200m spent on nuclear submarine dismantling project at Rosyth
The MP then led a debate at Westminster on the UK submarine fleet today (Wednesday) and in hi speech he said: “This kind of work is not being done anywhere else in the world and currently employs over 200 people in my constituency.
Mr Downie said there was no commitment and no funding to cut up the other six subs at Rosyth. (Image: Newsquest)
“There are 23 retired submarines in total, including Swiftsure, currently being stored between Rosyth and Devonport, that could be dismantled in a similar way.”
He asked the minister for defence procurement and industry, Maria Eagle, if she will “work with me, Babcock, Fife Council, Fife College and other local partners to help turn Rosyth in to worldwide centre of excellence for submarine dismantling”.
READ MORE: Fife Council approve Babcock plans for Rosyth Dockyard
Mr Downie also asked when the next stages of the project would be confirmed.
He added: “This announcement could be a vital one for the ongoing success of the defence industry in my constituency and its ability to drive local economic growth and provide secure and well-paying jobs for local people.”
Ahead of the debate, the MoD referred to a previous statement from the minister for the armed forces, Luke Pollard, who said: “There will be a continual process of learning as Swiftsure dismantling progresses.
“This will inform a baseline approach and schedule for all current decommissioned Royal Navy submarines.
He had added: “We are currently working with Babcock in Rosyth to plan for the next two boats in sequence, with a view to being on contract next year.”
Ms Eagle had also stated that the next phase will be to develop a business case which will set out the approach and future timelines “for any procurement action, including further marker engagement, such as the publishing of a contract notice”.