BABCOCK have confirmed that around 150 jobs are set to be slashed in Rosyth.

The decision follows the move to cut 250 positions in November.

A Babcock spokesperson said: “We have been undertaking a review of our operations and management structure at Rosyth over the last few months, to ensure that as a business we remain competitive and have the right internal teams in place to best support our current customers as well as winning new work in the future.

“Following a review of our current business structure we have decided to combine our energy and marine operations on site into one cohesive team to optimise performance of our current projects and maximise future opportunities.

"Regrettably in doing this we will reduce our management and support functions by around 150 positions.

"This is a necessary step in sustaining the competitiveness of our future business; however we recognise that this is a worrying time for those colleagues who are affected by these changes and our priority is now to work with our Trade Union representatives and those individuals throughout the coming consultation period. 

“The prospects for Babcock’s operations at Rosyth continue to be good and we remain totally committed to providing a safe and secure environment for our workforce that supports both our current and future operational needs. We are also firmly focused on delivery for our customer”. 

Douglas Chapman, Dunfermline and West Fife MP, expressed his "dismay and frustration" at the decision.

He said “I was disappointed when the UK government newly appointed MoD Procurement Minister, Guto Bebb, cancelled his Rosyth visit a few weeks ago. I have since met with him in Whitehall last week to underline how it was the UK Government policy to keep a steady drumbeat of orders coming into the likes of Rosyth and the Clyde yards to maintain a skilled workforce and give young apprentices a clear message that they had joined an industry of the future.

"It’s not as if anyone in the Tory government or the MoD did not realise that the aircraft carrier contracts were coming to an end. We’ve all known for years!

"It’s just that they refused to act by making sure some additional work could be offered to Rosyth during the transition period.

"My concerns are with the 150 people who will be walking out the yard for the last time very soon and I have written to the Scottish Government to make sure that the Skills Development Scotland PACE team, who I met in Dunfermline a few weeks ago, are ready to support those who need help in finding new employment.

"The annoying thing is that it’s always the Scottish Government who have got to sweep up the British mess left to us by the UK Government’s poor decision making and their insensitivity to our needs.

"At the meeting with the Minister last week, I made it clear that the Royal Navy has a full complement of six Type 45 new destroyers that can’t go to sea because they await upgraded power generators. Devonport also has two smaller ships awaiting refit. Some or all of that work could come to Rosyth to even out the order book. In addition, the Minister is also aware of our frustration with the late running process to sign orders for Type31e frigates where Babcock Rosyth and their partners have expressed a keen interest in winning that order. Sadly, for the 150 employees and the 250 people who were let go just before Christmas, it’s the UK’s lack of strategic planning and the timing of programmes that is costing people their jobs. For them and their families it’s a heavy price to pay.

"I am more than happy to keep piling the pressure onto UK Government Ministers, but we really do need them to be focussed on the day job and start to deliver a brighter and more coherent future for Rosyth.”