The UK defence secretary has hit out at the Scottish government over its policy of not providing public funding for munitions - branding it "not a serious government".
Comparing the policy to "student union politics", John Healey slammed the Scottish government after it was reported a new specialist welding centre in Glasgow could be under threat due to not being eligible for Scottish Enterprise funding.
The UK government has said it will step in to cover the £2.5million the project - a Rolls Royce welding centre - would miss out on from Scottish Enterprise funding.
The welding centre would support the construction of up to 12 new attack submarines the prime minister is set to announce today.
UK defence secretary Healey, appearing on BBC Scotland, was asked about reports the centre could be in jeopardy without Scottish Enterprise funding and said: "It really strikes me as student union politics.
"It's not a serious government concerned about the opportunities for young people in the future.
"It's not concerned about the skills base of Scotland or indeed the industry and innovation in the future because Scotland does have a big part to play in strengthening the industrial base as we will through more defence investment."
He added the defence sector supports more than 25,000 jobs in Scotland.
Responding, rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon said: "The project wasn't eligible for funding because of the long standing policy position that we have that we do not provide or support the use of public funding for the manufacture of munitions.
"I think the key difference between ourselves and the UK government is that, when we have principles, we stick to them."