Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 1.12 of the National Audit Office report, Delivering Carrier Strike, published on 16 March 2017, what contingencies his Department is considering to provide ship to shore amphibious operations after the decommissioning of HMS Ocean in 2018.

The Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015 made provision to augment the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers and maximise their ability to support our amphibious operations. Together with the existing amphibious ships of the Royal Navy and the Royal Fleet Auxiliary, this will provide the capability to deploy our amphibious forces.