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<p>HMS Illustrious, the last of three Invincible class aircraft carriers, will retire
from the Royal Navy on 1 August 2014. As I informed the House on 10 September 2012
(Official Report ,column 1WS), in recognition of the service given by these ships
in protecting the UK over the last 30 years, it is our preference to see HMS Illustrious
preserved intact as a lasting tribute to the Service personnel who served on all three
of the carriers.<br><br>In October 2013 the Ministry of Defence’s Disposal Services
Authority launched a competition to seek innovative reuse bids to retain HMS Illustrious
in the UK, with part or all of it developed for heritage purposes, which could include
tourism. The competition is ongoing and therefore no final decisions have been made
on the ship’s future.</p>
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