§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the capability of HMS Ark Royal to perform the functions of a Commando carrier. [89880]
§ Mr. IngramMaritime forces are inherently flexible and although not her primary role the Carrier Vertical Strike (CVS) can be operated successfully as a Landing Platform Helicopter (LPH). HMS Illustrious demonstrated this when, during operations in Afghanistan, she reconfigured from her role as CVS to that of LPH while at sea on deployment in the Gulf. Her primary role while configured as an LPH was to support joint and combined war fighting operations and to provide a platform for the rapid deployment of elements of Landing Forces by helicopter. HMS Ark Royal is fully capable of performing this task.