Aircraft Carriers

Mr. Jenkin
:To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is his policy that one of the Invincible Class aircraft carriers will be used in a permanent landing platform helicopter role. [113953]

Mr. Ingram
It is not policy that one of the Invincible Class aircraft carriers (CVS) will be used in a permanent LPH role. The CVS have the capability to carryout the LPH function as a secondary role in support of amphibious operations, as demonstrated by HMS Ark Royal as part of Operation TELIC, but the Royal Navy's primary LPH capability is provided by HMS Ocean.