The Strategic Defence Review considered all aspects of Defence, including the capabilities required by UK Defence to meet the challenges, threats, and opportunities of the twenty-first century. The plan for implementing the Review’s recommendations for the Integrated Force will be set out in the forthcoming Defence Investment Plan.

The Royal Navy's Littoral Strike capabilities are aligned with NATO's strategic objectives. These capabilities enhance the UK's ability to contribute to NATO operations, particularly in contested and strategically significant regions, and they support the Alliance's goals of deterrence, crisis response, and operational readiness.

The UK operates Littoral Response Groups (LRGs), which are part of the Littoral Strike concept, as forward-deployed amphibious forces capable of operating independently or as part of a larger joint force. These groups are designed to deliver defence engagement, maritime security operations, and hybrid warfare operations, as well as to support NATO operations including regional plans, which are routinely reviewed by the NATO Joint Force Command.

HMS Albion and Bulwark have been alongside since 2023 and 2017 respectively with no plans for them to return to sea before their out of service dates. Amphibious operations will continue to delivered by the Bay Class and RFA Argus until the introduction of the Multi Role Support Ship, which will succeed the amphibious fleet in the 2030s.

The retirement of HMS Albion and Bulwark will not impact the operational programme of the Royal Marines, who continue to deploy globally.

Both are currently held at lower readiness having not been to sea since 2023 and 2017 respectively. This Government inherited a position where neither was due to go to sea again before their planned out of service dates of 2033 and 2034.

The Royal Marines are supported by the three Bay Class Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) and RFA ARGUS, which also provides aviation support and can act as a casualty receiving ship. These ships will continue to support amphibious capability until they are succeeded by planned Multi Role Support Ships.

The Multi-Role Support Ship Programme is currently in its pre-concept phase, which has included the exploration of opportunities to collaborate with the Netherlands on common design options, interoperability, and equipment commonality. The focus is on determining the requirement and on setting the programme up for success, with work ongoing to ensure affordability.

The UK continues to have a strong and enduring relationship with the amphibious forces of the Netherlands, and the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding with the Netherlands last year reaffirmed that commitment. The intent will be collaborate and co-operate across the amphibious and littoral domains, both in developing equipment capability, interoperability and exploiting training opportunities to mutual benefit.

As stated by the Secretary of State on Friday 2 February during his visit to His Majesty's Naval Base Devonport, HMS BULWARK will be regenerated after her planned maintenance period while HMS ALBION, in line with longstanding departmental policy, will be kept at extended readiness so that it can be regenerated if required.

The Commando Force modernisation programme is delivering a fundamental change to the UK's amphibious capabilities. The programme will be delivered in two investment increments, called OPERATE and FIGHT. OPERATE will deliver a transformation of 3 Commando Brigade's operational capability on land while FIGHT will deliver the additional capabilities required to conduct ship-to-shore operations in a contested maritime environment.

On current plans, the Landing Platform Docks, HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark, will retire from service by the end of 2034. As part of the transformation of our Commando Forces, options for future amphibious capability are being developed in the form of the Multi Role Support Ship (MRSS).

The Secretary of State has also commissioned a plan on how the Royal Marines excellent work and capabilities can be bolstered and enhanced to protect Britain from a world that has grown more dangerous. An update to the House will be provided in due course.

I absolutely agree. I just want to correct a point that I made earlier: I was talking about frigates, but I think the hon. Member for Plymouth, Sutton and Devonport (Luke Pollard) was talking about the landing platform docks, on which no decision has been made.

As my hon. Friend the Member for Wrexham (Sarah Atherton) mentions, the Royal Marines are absolutely essential. I have asked the First Sea Lord to provide a plan for how their excellent work will be taken forward.

As the media report the retirement of HMS Bulwark and HMS Albion, there are obvious questions about Britain’s future amphibious capability, which was used so admirably during the Falklands war, along with the unrivalled skills of our specialist troops. Does the Minister agree that our Royal Marine commandos are an asset that we cannot afford to lose?

The Royal Navy will be able to conduct amphibious operations using Littoral Response Groups (LRGs) when Initial Operating Capability is established in 2023.

Investment in the coming years will enable LRGs to conduct both boat and helicopter operations. Plans are being developed to enable Royal Fleet Auxiliary Bay Class ships to work solely with LRGs, and the Integrated Review endorsed the Multi-Role Support Ship programme which will ensure that capability is maintained over the long-term.

3 Commando Brigade are evolving to meet the demands of the current and future operating environment and their world-class ability to conduct amphibious operations will be central to LRGs.

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence made clear during Defence oral questions in the House of Commons on Monday 6 July 2020, the size and shape of our Armed Forces should be dictated by the threat we face as a nation and our global ambition. The Integrated Review is not about cutting defence and I can assure you that this country will continue to have the world class Armed Forces that it needs and deserves.

The Littoral Strike programme, announced by the Secretary of State for Defence in February 2019, is a complete transformation of the UK's amphibious force. The programme identifies 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines as the central fighting formation used to deliver Littoral Strike and the Future Commando Force. It is driven by the requirement to counter the threats we will face in the future and forms a pillar to the Royal Navy's Integrated Review offer.

HMS OCEAN was sold to the Brazilian Navy for £84 million. The potential cost of the Littoral Strike Ship will be established during the initial concept phase that my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence announced on 11 February 2019.

The procurement strategy for the Littoral Strike Ship has yet to be determined. However, we have no intention of buying back HMS OCEAN which is now in service with the Brazilian Navy.

No.

The normal operating cycle of every ship involves them entering different readiness levels depending on their programmes and Departmental planning requirements.

From records scrutinised, the number of days HMS Albion, HMS Bulwark, all the bay-class Landing Ship Dock Auxiliaries, Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Tankers and Type 23 Frigates spent at sea in each year from 1 January 2016 to 30 September 2018, is shown below:

The records for the RFA Tide Class also reflect their customisation and trials packages required for their entry into service. While deployed away from the UK, ships will spend days at sea and alongside in ports around the world.

The Royal Navy are considering the options available for replacing HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark as part of the routine business for future maritime capabilities. At this time no specific dates have been set for any replacement of these vessels and their Out of Service dates remain as 2033 and 2034 respectively.

The Royal Navy and Royal Marines are integral to the UK’s global reputation in amphibious warfare. That is why the Government remain committed to ensuring the future of the amphibious warfare capability within our future force structures.

What recent assessment has he made of the UK armed forces' amphibious capability.

I am second to none in my admiration for the Royal Marines. Indeed, one of the highlights of my time as Armed Forces Minister has been presenting the green berets to them. I can absolutely assure my hon. Friend that there is a strong future for the Royal Marines as part of our armed forces. Of course, they are currently serving on HMS Albion off the Korean peninsula.