TWO Royal Navy amphibious assault ships will not be scrapped or mothballed ahead of schedule, a minister has said following weeks of speculation about their fate.
HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark were reportedly being eyed for early retirement in order to free up sailors for other vessels, amid a recruitment crisis in the armed forces.
But Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell assured MPs that both ships will remain in service until their planned out of service dates in the early 2030s.
Meanwhile, Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said he was "working hard" to ensure the armed forces are not depleted, after being warned that military personnel are leaving faster than they can be replaced.
As MPs were given the opportunity to debate the UK's airstrikes on Yemen-based Houthi rebels, Mr. Mitchell confirmed the fate of the two ships.
Responding to questions about the ships, he said: "He asked me about the two LPDs, the landing platform dock Albion and Bulwark, and he asked for an undertaking that they will not be scrapped.
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STRIKER CRISIS
GRAY IS NOW THE ONLY FIT FRONTMAN AT HOME PARK
Injuries have left Pilgrims very light in attack
GRAY IS THE ONLY FIT STRIKER AS ARGYLE HIT THE FESTIVE PERIOD
Raiders ends year on a high with victory over the Cobras
PLYMOUTH Raiders got into the Christmas spirit on Sunday with their first competitive game since the win over the Patriots, and they were looking to give the sell-out crowd who packed into the Life Centre an early Christmas gift of a win.
Local lad Trigger returns to Plymouth to ride for Centurians
PLYMOUTH speedway have confirmed the seven riders that will make up their National Development Trophy team for the 2025 season and there is a welcome return for homegrown racer Ben Trigger.
Loyalty card issue for Morrisons
MORRISONS has cut the price of items including turkeys and Champagne for all shoppers, after a system glitch hit its loyalty card yesterday, but some customers may face delayed Christmas orders.
King's focus is on value of health
THE King's Christmas message will focus on the efforts of healthcare workers, following a year that saw Charles and the Princess of Wales treated for cancer.
'Challenge' for Reeves
CHANCELLOR Rachel Reeves has described the \"challenge\" of fixing the economy as \"huge\", after revised official figures showed that the UK economy flatlined in the third quarter of the year.
Santa Bus 'unsafe to drive'
MECHANICAL FAULT STOPS FESTIVE BUS IN ITS TRACKS
A time of hope and goodwill
Spirit of generosity at heart of Christian faith
We need to be ambitious for Plymouth
We asked city MPs and the city council's leader to write their Christmas messages for residents. Here's what they said...
