The UK actively contributes to initiatives that counter security threats in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). This is achieved bilaterally through Maritime Domain Awareness programmes and counter terrorism activities, and multilaterally through organisations such as the Combined Maritime Force, which actively support Maritime Security operations, including counter-piracy and counter-terrorism. Although dislocated geographically from the main threat areas, the base on Diego Garcia could be used as a logistics hub or staging area to support such activities.

Under the agreement with Mauritius we will retain full control over Diego Garcia with robust provisions to keep adversaries out. These include unrestricted access to and use of the base for the UK and US; a buffer zone around Diego Garcia; a comprehensive mechanism to ensure no activity in the other islands threatens base operations; and a ban on the presence of any foreign security forces. This will ensure the long term secure and effective operation of the base well into the next century.

The Export Control Joint Unit (ECJU) is responsible for licensing Private Maritime Security Companies (PMSCs) which provide armed security guards to protect vessels transiting the Indian Ocean High Risk Area from the threat of piracy. It also licences the vessel-based armouries which PMSCs use to store their weapons.

The licensing process for PMSCs and vessel-based armouries does not require information about where firearms originated, and therefore ECJU has no record of this information.

ECJU does not proactively monitor or record the number of vessels within the Indian Ocean.

The UK is using the full range of diplomatic, economic and military tools at our disposal to pressure the Houthis to stop their reckless and indiscriminate attacks on international shipping and degrade their capabilities. We urge them and those who enable them to cease their attacks and avoid any further escalations, including in the Indian Ocean.

We and our allies continue to condemn the Houthi's attacks. We will continue to stand up for freedom of navigation.

I refer to my right hon. Friend for Berwick-upon-Tweed's comments during the Westminster Hall Debate on 7 December 2022. It is worth noting that Mauritius is one of only two African countries that has not signed up to China's Belt and Road Initiative. Mauritius signed a Free Trade Agreement with China in 2019.

In 2013 the then Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Alistair Burt, announced a £2.25 million package supporting anti-piracy efforts in the Indian Ocean region. As part of this, £650,000 was allocated to Mauritius for the funding of a new courtroom facility equipped to handle piracy prosecutions. The announcement can be found on GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/uk-to-allocate-further-funding-for-work-against-piracy).

There are currently no plans for HMS Queen Elizabeth to exercise with USS Dwight D Eisenhower in the Indian Ocean as part of the 2021 Carrier Strike Group deployment.

In support of the strategic tilt toward the Indo-Pacific announced by Her Majesty’s Government in the Integrated Review (CP 403) on 16 March 2021, the Ministry of Defence plans to establish a persistent maritime presence in the Indo-Pacific region. On 22 March 2021, the Secretary of State for Defence outlined a plan to Parliament (CP 411) to deliver this through Offshore Patrol Vessels from 2021, a Littoral Response Group from 2023 and a permanently assigned Frigate by the end of the decade. These forces will intentionally operate asymmetrically, without a nominated base. They will use existing UK, allied and partner facilities around the region enabled by our existing global support agreements. Consequently, no permanent air defences are required.

The UK Government shares concerns over the safety of the Rohingya refugees stranded in the Andaman Sea. The British High Commission in Delhi has made representations to the Government of India, and we understand that India has provided humanitarian support to those on board. We continue to engage with governments in the region, UN agencies and other international partners to support the safety and well-being of all Rohingya refugees. The UK is the second largest donor to the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh, having committed close to £300 million since August 2017. We are also one of the largest donors in Rakhine State, having provided over £25 million for the Rohingya since 2017.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will hear the case of the maritime boundary dispute between Somalia and Kenya in March 2021; subject to the ICJ's timelines it is possible that there will be a ruling around six months later. It would be inappropriate to pre-empt the ICJ's ruling. Recognising their shared interests in regional security and stability, the UK continues to encourage dialogue and co-operation between Kenya and Somalia on all areas of their bilateral relationship.

The Royal Navy currently has six surface ships deployed in the Gulf. These are HMS BROCKLESBY, HMS LEDBURY, HMS BLYTH, HMS SHOREHAM, HMS MONTROSE and RFA CARDIGAN BAY.

There are currently no surface ships deployed in the Arctic, Indian Ocean and South China Sea.

The Ministry of Defence does not release details of future deployments, nor comment on submarine operations, as to do so would, or would be likely to, prejudice the capability, effectiveness or security of the Armed Forces.

As stated in my answer of 29 January 2019 to Question 212337, this remains subject to confirmation through the Departmental planning process.

On current plans a Royal Navy Type 45 Destroyer will escort the French Aircraft Carrier (Charles de Gaulle) when it departs for its deployment, but the formal nomination of a ship, and indeed the scope of its escort duties, remains subject to wider departmental planning considerations.

The number of acts of piracy in the Western Indian Ocean has reduced sharply in recent years. According to the EU's counter-piracy mission, EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta, there were 11 reported piracy related attacks on commercial vessels in the region in the last five years. Of those, only one – an attack against a Comoros flagged oil tanker, the Aris 13, on 13 March 2017 – was successful. By contrast, in 2011, there were 176 reported piracy attacks.

The UK plays a leading role in the fight against piracy in the Western Indian Ocean. We contribute the Commander and Operational Headquarters for the EU's counter piracy mission, EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta, as well as the Deputy Commander for the international Combined Maritime Force, Task Force 151. The UK will continue to play an active role in both missions.

The UK plays a leading role in the fight against piracy in the Western Indian Ocean. We contribute the Commander and Operational Headquarters for the EU's counter piracy mission, EUNAVFOR Operation Atalanta, as well as the Deputy Commander for the international Combined Maritime Force, Task Force 151. The UK will continue to play an active role in both missions.

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the West Indian Ocean poses a limited security threat to British nationals, so we have not made a formal assessment.

The UK Government has made no specific assessment of the economic cost to the UK of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing either globally or in the West Indian Ocean. IUU poses a threat to the economic livelihood for many countries with consequences for the marine environment. The UK fulfils its IUU obligations to prevent trade in illegally caught fish by prohibiting the import of fish from countries, identified by the European Union, as not supporting sustainable fisheries.

In 2009, prior to the implementation of the regulation, the European Commission commissioned an evaluation report on the expected impacts of the EU IUU Regulation on third countries. This report aimed to help third countries and the EU access the training requirements to implement this measure successfully, and is available at

https://ec.europa.eu/fisheries/sites/fisheries/files/docs/body/iuu_consequences_2009_en.pdf.

The UK participates in three international counter piracy operations. The EU NAVFOR's Operation Atalanta, and NATO's Operation Ocean Shield both operate off the coast of Somalia, whilst the multinational Combined Maritime Task Force 151 operates both in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden.

The Ministry of Defence provides the headquarters in Northwood for Operation Atalanta, along with an Operational Commander from the Royal Navy. There are also regular commitments of Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships to the operation, the last of which was RFA Lyme Bay in November 2013. The Royal Navy intends to provide further support during 2014. Currently the mandate for the operation expires in 2014.

Operational control of Ocean Shield is conducted by the NATO Maritime Component Command based at Northwood, and UK ships participate in the mission on an opportunity basis. The current mandate for the operation expires at the end of 2014.

The UK provides a one star commander and a ship to the US-led Combined Maritime Force 151 based in Bahrain, on an enduring basis. The task force conducts counter piracy operations as part of its maritime security role.