With costs of Trident estimated at £25 billion Scotland's pro-rata share would be £2.125 billion. £2.125 billion could pay for a package of:

• 10 new Secondary Schools
• 5 new Hospitals
• 30 new Community Sports Centres
• 100 new Dentists
• 100 new Doctors
• 200 new Teachers
• Dualling the A96 from Aberdeen to Inverness or the A9 from
  Inverness to Perth
• Hosting the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow

Commenting Mr Robertson said:

"With the 2007 election a neck and neck race between the SNP and Labour we will be ensuring this issue is right at the top of the political agenda. Trident is not only immoral but a waste of money. Money that could be spent on changing Scotland for the better.

"The much needed public services we have listed illustrate the choice Scotland will have to make next May. The wrong path will see millions wasted on UK weapons of mass destruction by London Labour.

"Over £2 billion is a heavy price for Scotland to pay for the vanity of Gordon Brown's personal ambition and arrogance of Tony Blair's image in the world. The SNP are determined that Scotland will not be drawn into their vanity games. Instead, at next year's elections, we will have the chance to use our resources to change Scotland for the better."

Notes

The costs to Scotland's communities of the UK's Weapons of Mass Destruction:

• Estimated Cost of Son of Trident - £25 billion
   
• Scottish pro-rata share - £2.125 billion
   
• 10 new Secondary Schools @ £16,500,000 each = £148,500,000
  Based on estimated cost of new Balfron High School
   
• 5 new Hospitals @ £180,000,000 each = £720,000,000
  Based on building costs of Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
   
• 30 Community Sports Centres @ £5.7 million each = £165,300,000
  Based on average of £1.4 million for small community centres to £10 million for quite large sports centres
   
• Train 100 Dentists @ £115,000 each = £11,385,000
  Based on average cost in 2003 of around £20,000 per year.  Courses last at least 5 years - adding in inflation and lecturers' pay deal would come to estimate of £115,000
   
• Train 100 Doctors @ £300,000 each = £29,700,000
  Based on BMA figures for total investment (tuition, living expenses, lost production costs, clinical placement and replacement costs) to train all specialisations and rounded up to £300,000 to take account of ongoing training throughout career
   
• Train 200 Teachers @ £25,000 each = £2,475,000
  Based on approximately £5,500 annually in 2000/01. Courses are between four and six years (majority four). With inflation, lecturers' pay deal estimate is at £25,000 to train each teacher
   
• Dualling the A96 from Aberdeen to Inverness or the A9 from Inverness to Perth = £600,000,000
  Based on Scottish Executive estimates
   
• Host the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow = £200,000,000
  Based on reported estimated costs of bid
   
• Total = £2,082,500,000
   
• £42,500,000 remaining for contingency