'No final decision' on mothballing assault ships HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark

No final decision has been made on whether or not to 'mothball' two Royal Navy assault ships, a defence minister has insisted.

News reports have suggested that HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark could be retired to free up sailors for other vessels, amid a recruitment crisis.

Richard Drax, Conservative MP for South Dorset, told MPs: "One decision he could make to support the defence jobs would be to retain HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark.

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"Could he reassure the House and the Royal Marines, and the Royal Navy and the Armed Forces that these two vital ships will be kept and not in operation and not mothballed?"

Defence minister James Cartlidge replied: "What I would say is no final decision has been made on these platforms.

"I know there has been a lot of coverage in the press and a lot of chatter inevitably. I know how important they are to our service personnel, but I want to reassure him that we are looking at this in the round.

"But in terms of jobs, we are absolutely committed to supporting defence jobs across the piece."

HMS Albion and HMS Bulwark are two of the Royal Navy's amphibious assault ships and capable of landing Royal Marines ashore by air and sea.