To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made towards providing eight amphibious ships as referred to in the Strategic Defence Review 1998. (211501)

The modernisation of the Royal Navy's amphibious fleet was completed in 2007 with the introduction into service of the Landing Ship Dock (Auxiliary) RFA Lyme Bay. The improved capability of the new amphibious ships compared to their predecessors mean that there are no plans to expand the fleet beyond the seven ships presently in service.