Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to his oral contribution of 8 January 2024, Official Report, column 20, if he will make it his policy to publish the plan for the Royal Marines he has asked the First Sea Lord to provide.

The Royal Marines Commando Force are highly trained, highly skilled and are currently deployed globally in support of operations; their transformation signalled in the Integrated Review 21 to the Future Commando Force is well underway. This is changing the way Commando Forces operate, utilising innovation and improving their lethality and agility to meet modern threats.

The Royal Marines are a vital part of the UK’s fighting capability and the Royal Navy will continue to invest in the Littoral Strike Concept to ensure our ability to respond to future global threats and crises.

The Secretary of State has commissioned a plan with a scope that will encompass how the Royal Marines work and capabilities can be bolstered and enhanced to protect Britain from a world that is growing more dangerous. Officials are formalising the scope, timelines and outcome of this work which will be submitted to Ministers for approval.