This petition was submitted during the 2017–2019 Conservative government
Petition Stop the cuts to the Royal Marines and the Royal Navy's amphibious assault ships
This petition calls on the Government to stop cuts to Devonport-based HMS Albion & HMS Bulwark. There has been recent media speculation that the Government is considering scrapping the Royal Navy's entire amphibious assault capabilities and cut 1,000 Royal Marines. We want these cuts stopped.
More details
The BBC News article about these possible cuts is here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41511790
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
Government responded
This response was given on 6 November 2017
A cross-Government review of national security capabilities is being conducted to ensure future investment is unified and efficient. No decisions have been made and the media articles are speculation.
Read the response in full
In the face of ever-changing threats to our security, the Ministry of Defence is contributing to the cross-Government review of national security capabilities in support of the continued implementation of the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review. This Review is to ensure that the United Kingdom’s investment in capabilities is as joined-up, effective and efficient as possible, and will cover areas including Defence, counter terrorism, national resilience and cyber. This Review is on-going and no decisions have been made; any discussion of specific platforms or capabilities is speculation.
Ministers will consider the conclusions of the National Security Capability Review in due course.
Ministry of Defence
Related activity
MPs want to hear your views on the Royal Marines and the Royal Navy
There are reports that the Government is thinking about scrapping the Royal Navy's amphibious assault capabilities and cutting 1,000 Royal Marines.
A group of MPs called the Defence Committee are investigating these possible changes to the Royal Marines and UK amphibious forces.
To help them with their investigation, they'd like to hear from you.
You can tell them whatever you think is important. You could also think about a few of these questions:
How important are the Royal Marines and Albion class ships to the UK?
How do you think that having fewer Royal Marines since 2010 and more recent changes in numbers have affected the Corps?
Do you think that further changes will affect supporting units within 3 Commando Brigade?
What do you think the impact has been of having one of the two Albion class ships at extended readiness, so that only one is available for deployment?
What could UK Armed Forces do to match the capabilities that might be lost? Are the alternatives good enough?
Are there enough exercises and training to keep amphibious capability at high readiness?
What do you think will happen to unit morale and satisfaction with Service life if the reported changes and reductions happen?
What do you think will happen to the communities where these capabilities are based if the reported changes and reductions happen?
You can tell the Committee what you think in two ways.
You can fill in the web forum:
If you have something more complicated to say, you could also send us a longer document about the changes. You can do that here:
What is the Defence Committee?
The Defence Committee looks at and questions how the UK Government Department for Defence:
• is run
• spends money
• decides on its policies
It's a cross-party committee and is independent of the Government.
You can find out more about the Defence Committee on its website:
http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/commons-select/defence-committee/
You can follow the Defence Committee on Twitter: @CommonsDefence
This is a House of Commons ‘select committee’. Find out how select committees work: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_2RDuDs44c&feature=youtu.be