October’s White Paper explained the Government's intention to make certain changes to the Armed Forces.

A written ministerial statement explains in more detail those changes that affect the Royal Navy's surface fleet. The remaining Type 22 frigates, including HMS Cumberland, Chatham, Campbeltown and Cornwall, will be withdrawn from service by the end of April 2011 The White Paper announced that the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal would be decommissioned, and, accordingly, she was withdrawn from service at the end of November.

It was also announced that either her sister ship HMS Illustrious or the Landing Platform Helicopter ship HMS Ocean would be withdrawn from service following a short study into which of these two ships was better able to provide the capability we require over the next few years.

This work has now been completed and it has been decided that HMS Ocean should be retained to provide our landing platform helicopter capability for the longer term.

HMS Illustrious will be withdrawn from service in 2014, once Ocean has emerged from a planned refit and been returned to a fully operational state. This will ensure that we retain the ability to deliver an amphibious intervention force from the sea and maintain an experienced crew to support the later introduction into service of the new Queen Elizabeth Class carrier.

DIARY DATES: Today: The Royal Marines Association meets at 19.30 hours at West Bowling Working Men's Club, Dovesdale Road.

The Parachute Regiment Association meets at 20.00 hours at Thornbury Barracks.

West Yorkshire British Korean Veterans meet at 19.30 hours at North Bridge leisure centre, Halifax.

Wednesday: The Bingley branch of the Royal British Legion meets at 19.00 hours at 20 Heath Street, Bingley.

The RAF Association meets at 13.00 hours at The Royal British Legion, Unit 16, Listerhills Science Park, Bradford.

Thursday: The Royal Military Police Association meets at 20.00 hours at Pudsey Royal British Legion.

Saturday: Borneo and Malayan Veterans Association meet at 14.00 hours at Headingley Club.