The decision on building the new submarines is scheduled for 2016, after both the referendum on independence, and the next Westminster election, when the differences between the Conservative and LiberalDemocrat coalitions parties may no longer need resolved.
The then Conservative and LiberalDemocrat opposition parties helped to highlight the emerging fissures between the military and their political masters under the previous Labour government, such as the row over whether there was a shortage of helicopters in Helmand.