Dame Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport, has expressed concerns about the future of key defence training estates in her constituency.

Her apprehension follows the Government's Strategic Defence and Security Review which suggests reconsideration of the Royal Navy's training estate needs.

In the House of Commons, Dame Caroline asked Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey, to ensure that training bases HMS Sultan and HMS Collingwood are not at risk.

She said: "This line, page 105, reconsidering training estate needs, will concern many.

HMS Sultan training base loHMS Sultan training base lo (Image: Archive) "Could he confirm that the outstanding training establishments at HMS Sultan and HMS Collingwood, which employ so many, will not be under threat?"

Mr Healey responded, saying: "We are doing further work on the nature and the needs of our defence estate.

"It’s right that we do that.

"Because we have a long-term view now, we’ll be able to take better long-term decisions on that."

After this statement, Dame Caroline said: "It’s very concerning to read that the training estate is under review because HMS Sultan and HMS Collingwood not only offer an incredibly high standard of training and value-for-money for the Royal Navy but they also create many high-skilled jobs in the Gosport peninsula.

"I will continue to campaign to ensure that the Government recognises the contribution of these outstanding establishments."