Oral question asked in the House of Lords, by Lord Geddes (Conservative). It was answered by Baroness Taylor of Bolton (Labour) on Thursday, 22 January 2009.

Piracy: Royal Navy

Question: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the capability of the Royal Navy to safeguard United Kingdom trade routes against piracy and other illegal activities. My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper. In doing so, I declare an interest as a long-retired lowly officer of the Royal Naval Reserve and a member of the parliamentary naval association.

Answer: My Lords, I am sure that the whole House will wish to join me in offering sincere condolences to the families and friends of Marine Travis Mackin, Captain Tom Sawyer, Corporal Danny Winter and Acting Corporal Richard Robinson, who were killed on operations in Afghanistan recently. The Royal Navy has already had demonstrable success in tackling piracy and illegal activities around the Horn of Africa, which is a vital artery of world trade. The best effect can be achieved by operating in the multinational partnerships, Operation Atalanta and the combined maritime force. However, these problems cannot be tackled solely within the maritime environment, and we must continue to work with the international community to tackle them at their roots through the provision of humanitarian and development assistance.

Secondary information