The Royal Marines and UK amphibious capability inquiry

Published 16 May 2018.

The Government 'notes and welcomes' the Committee's inquiry and says it 'remains committed to ensuring the future of the amphibious warfare capability', while also stating that all elements of the force structure remain in scope of the Modernising Defence Programme.

• On the Albion class LPDs, the Government 'notes the Committee's opposition' to early withdrawal and says there are 'no current plans to decommission HMS ALBION and HMS BULWARK early', while 'all elements of the force structure remain in scope for modernisation' at this early stage of the MDP.
• On ministerial accountability, the Government 'fully accepts and upholds' the principle of accountability to Parliament and says the Levene reforms 'have not altered or diluted this principle in any way'.
• On the Modernising Defence Programme, the Government says the MOD 'will engage widely', including with Parliament, and is 'keen that the HCDC, where appropriate, is able to provide input', but describes the MDP as 'internal to Defence'.
• On training, it confirms some 2017/18 exercises 'did not take place' and says it is 'anticipated' that specialist collective training overseas will resume next financial year; it declines to give the detail requested for operational security reasons.

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