A shipbuilding union boss has said he is "75% confident" that new Navy frigates will be built on the Clyde if Scotland votes 'No' to independence.

Officials and senior shop stewards from BAE Systems, Babcock Marine, Rolls-Royce, Selex and Thales met Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael to seek assurances on job ­retention, skills preservation and investment if Scotland remains in the UK.

Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions chairman Jim Moohan said that during the meeting Mr Carmichael was "batting for the UK Government, so he is more or less saying if you vote 'Yes' then, sorry, you have lost" the contract for the Royal Navy's 13 new Type 26 global combat ships.

He said Mr Carmichael echoed the warning of Defence Secretary Philip Hammond that "there would be no commitment to a foreign country of the Type 26".

While there was no firm assurance that Clydeside would get the Type 26 if Scotland remains in the UK, Mr Moohan said he feels more assured by the UK ministers' language that "the 'No' vote would bring the Type 26 to Clydeside" than the messages they have received from the Scottish Government.

Mr Carmichael said: "Meeting the representatives of the shipbuilding unions and firms which depend on warship contracts as part of the UK brought home the huge amount of uncertainty which the referendum is causing for the workforce in Scotland.

"This is a huge issue for Scotland. The workers at Rosyth, Govan and Scotstoun need assurances on what the future may hold."

A Scottish Government spokesman said: "The Royal Navy will continue to order ships from Scottish yards, as these are the best place to produce these vessels. We are also proposing joint procurement on the Clyde - with orders from an independent Scottish navy."