The session will be held on recent news reports that Defence Secretary Grant Shapps is considering retiring these vessels and the consequences for Royal Marine capabilities.
The two assault ships are amphibious Landing Platform Docks, which transfer Royal Marines and their equipment ashore. According to contemporary plans, they should stay in service until 2034.
In its 2018 report, 'Sunset for the Royal Marines,' the Defence Committee's predecessor Committee warned that disposing of HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark would be "militarily illiterate" and "completely at odds with strategic reality."
British Ministry of Defence officials said in Parliament that the future of the amphibious assault ships HMS 'Albion' and HMS 'Bulwark' remains unknown and that there is a case for early withdrawal due to a lack of staff. Recently, British dailies wrote about the Defence Ministry's plans to retire two Type-23 frigates due to a lack of staff.
