BAE Systems to cut shipyard jobs on the Clyde However, the UK Government will be acutely aware of the impact of a Scottish yard shutting at a time when defence is a major battleground in the debate over separation. Philip Hammond, the Defence Secretary, who is expected to make an announcement in the Commons, said last month that the break-up of the UK would hit jobs on the Clyde and at Rosyth, as Scottish firms would no longer be eligible to bid for domestic defence contracts. Some of the job losses may be offset by a contract to build the new Type 26 Global Combat Ship, but BAE has yet to announce which of its UK shipyards will carry out the work. It employs around 3,200 workers at its Glasgow sites, while 300 other staff have been seconded to work on a separate contract in Rosyth. Around 1,200 workers are employed at Portsmouth and Plymouth. The job losses follow the completion of work on sections of two new aircraft carriers on the Clyde. Johan Lamont, the Scottish Labour leader, said shipbuilding was part of Scotland and everything must be done to ensure it continued on the Clyde. She added: "The UK Government is the Clyde's biggest customer and I will be seeking urgent talks to make sure that continues. Govan is in my constituency and also within the hearts of every Scot who cares about Scottish industry. This will be a particularly worrying time for the workforce and their families but I will work with anyone to make sure we can keep these jobs. It's times like these that we all need to come together, put differences aside and fight to secure these vital jobs. I will work with everyone who wants to see this yard kept open in the interests of Glasgow and Scotland. Jamie Webster, convenor of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions at the Govan yard, said: "I do not want to speculate until we get full transparency from BAE Systems and the Ministry of Defence over what they have planned for Govan and Scotstoun shipyards. The tension in the yard has been significant and it has been difficult for the workforce. They just want to know what is going on. Ruth Davidson, the Scottish Conservative leader, said the speculation was unhelpful and de-stabilising to both the workforce and their families. She described the workforce on the Clyde as highly professional, motivated and loyal, and said they deserved clear answers. A BAE spokesman said the company was working closely with the Ministry of Defence to "explore all possible options to determine how best to sustain the capability to deliver complex warships in the UK in the future." Hugh Scullion, general secretary of the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions (CSEU), said the union would hold talks with senior BAE Systems executives early next week to "examine the business case of the forthcoming announcement." Speculation over Govan's future mounted last weekend after it emerged that five cranes at the yard were being decommissioned, although BAE said the decision was not related to its maritime review. Nicola Sturgeon, the Deputy First Minister whose Glasgow constituency includes parts of Govan, said at the weekend that it would be "outrageous" if Govan did not have a future.