An extended consultation period would give the Western Isles task force set up to oppose plans that threaten 125 jobs vital extra time to make its case, John Swinney said today.
The Finance Secretary was speaking ahead of a visit to Benbecula and South Uist tomorrow, where he will tour the missile ranges and join the taskforce's latest meeting.
The jobs are under threat as a result of Ministry of Defence and contractor QinetiQ's plans to make savings at the ranges.
In the wake of the MoD announcement, a taskforce has been set up, including representatives from the Scottish Government, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and other key agencies.
Mr Swinney said:
"The case against these job cuts and the effect they would have on the Uists as remote island communities is compelling.
"Both at a local and national level, the taskforce set up to push for alternative solutions is compiling strong evidence that this course of action is the wrong route to take.
"A Socio-Economic Study has been commissioned by Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) and an independent study of defence-related issues will also be carried out.
"I have written to the MOD to ask them to extend the consultation deadline to the normal 90 day period required for large-scale redundancies. Whilst I welcome the brief extension of three weeks already announced, I hope the response to my request will be positive - giving us vital extra time to build the strongest case against these proposals that we can.
"I look forward to meeting the taskforce again tomorrow, to continue to emphasise the Scottish Government's full support.
"Working together we can save these vital jobs."
The Leader of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and Chair of the Hebrides Range Task Force, Angus Campbell, said:
"The Task Force is very much looking forward to discussions with Mr Swinney and we welcome his support in calling for an extension to the consultation period. All we're asking for is the time to prepare proposals-surely it can't make much difference to the MoD so I would appeal to them to give us the courtesy of an adequate and meaningful consultation period. The employees at Qinetiq and the wider community deserve that at least".
William Roe, chair of Highlands and Islands Enterprise said:
"The communities affected by this announcement are making a highly valuable contribution to QinetiQ's operations and possess some tremendous assets. We need additional time to properly investigate options which provide continued employment for those whose jobs are under threat while satisfying the demands that prompted QinetiQ into proposing this action."
