DEFENCE Secretary Michael Fallon yesterday said he would not sign the multi-billion contract to build warships on the Clyde until he is “absolutely persuaded” he has the best deal.

Fallon has been repeatedly pressed over delays to the contract with BAE Systems, which was originally set to include 13 state of the art Type 26 frigates and provide a new production facility which would make the Clydeside yards in Glasgow internationally competitive.

However, investment in the site is understood to have been shelved after the project was cut to just eight ships and a target start date for May was delayed indefinitely.

The hold-ups have sparked anger from trade unions who claim their members were lied to during the independence referendum campaign, when the UK Government said staying in the Union would protect their jobs.

Yesterday local MP Chris Stephens told Fallon: “We want these ships, not excuses.”

Meanwhile, Commons defence committee chairman Julian Lewis said the Ministry of Defence was solely to blame for delays.

He said: “Isn’t it a fact that BAE Systems are ready to start cutting steel right now, and the only thing that’s holding things up is a lack of funds in the MoD’s budget?”

“If we don’t start building these ships on time, surely we will end up with the same old story, that we will drop below the already inadequate total of 19 frigates and destroyers.

“Or, if we don’t, we’ll have to pay a lot more money to keep old ships in service longer than they should be kept in service.”

Fallon said the timetable for the project would be set out “shortly”, but declined to give a date.

He went on: “I am not prepared to sign a contract with BAE Systems until I’m absolutely persuaded that it is in the best interests and value for money for the taxpayer, and indeed for the Navy.”

Stephens, whose Glasgow South West constituency includes the BAE Systems base in Govan, said: “The clear message from the workforce can perhaps be best paraphrased by Darth Vader – we want these ships, not excuses.”

Following the exchange, Stephens said: “Today’s answers from the Secretary of State will not address the fears of shipyard workers on the Clyde or the trade unions.

“With no commitment for the date of cutting steel on Type 26s, promised to start in May 2016, and the absence of the general purpose frigates being mentioned in an answer to defence work going to Scotland, the promises by the former Prime Minister David Cameron that 13 ships would be procured from the Clyde are beginning to prove worthless.

“While Cameron leaves the political stage, workers are being left looking for answers to basic questions.”