Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Protection of Shipping Routes

Monday 8 January 2024 · 6 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 5 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Royal Navy and the Government are committed to protecting maritime trade and international waters, guided by the latest intelligence and analysis.
  • The Houthis have caused a significant increase in attacks on maritime shipping in the Red Sea, rising by 500% from November to December.
  • The UK, along with other countries, has issued a joint statement calling for the Iranian-backed Houthis to cease attacks on shipping in the Red Sea.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Alistair Carmichael Lib Dem Orkney and Shetland
Defence
Context

The MP asked about the Royal Navy's current operations to protect merchant ships in conflict zones, specifically mentioning concerns over recent assessments of effectiveness.

Question

What recent assessment has he made of the effectiveness of the Royal Navy in protecting merchant shipping routes in conflict zones?

Answer from Grant Shapps

The Royal Navy and the Government are committed to the protection of maritime trade, ensuring that both people and shipping remain safe to travel through international waters. That work is driven by the latest intelligence and analysis of that picture. As I said on 19 December in my written statement, HMS Diamond has joined our partners and allies as part of Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect freedom of navigation and merchant shipping in the Red sea and the gulf of Aden.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific assessment details not provided

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q2 Nigel Mills Con
Defence Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP followed up on previous responses by asking about the government's discussions and initiatives aimed at reducing tensions that threaten trade routes.

Question

I thank the Secretary of State for his answer, and those in our armed services for their work protecting these important routes. Can he update the House on his discussions and work with our international partners to de-escalate the tensions, so that we do not need all the protection work and can go back to the normal free flow of trade?

Answer from Grant Shapps

As my hon. Friend will know, the Houthis have been causing havoc in that part of the Red sea, in particular attacking ships. There was a 500% increase in attacks on maritime shipping from November to December, showing that there is no direct connection to the wider conflict in the region but a decision by Houthis to attack free trade. That is unacceptable. We are working with our partners, through Operation Prosperity Guardian and other measures, to tackle it.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No concrete action or timeline provided

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q3 Alistair Carmichael Lib Dem Orkney and Shetland
Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP pressed on the issue of Iran's role in supporting Houthi attacks, asking about specific actions taken by the UK and its allies.

Question

The Secretary of State is absolutely right to point the finger at the Houthis, but we should not ignore the role of Iran in this enterprise. What are he and the Government doing with our international partners to ensure that the merchant marine have the confidence to keep using the Red sea, which is critical to the smooth operating of world trade?

Answer from Grant Shapps

We call on the Iranian-backed Houthis to immediately cease these attacks. The Houthis will bear the responsibility and, I have to say, the consequences should they ignore those warnings. The right hon. Gentleman asks what more we have been doing; I issued a statement along with 10 other countries during the break, in which we made clear that consequences will follow if they do not stop this action.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific actions or commitments provided beyond statements and warnings

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q4 John Healey Lab Rawmarsh and Conisbrough
Defence
Context

The MP welcomed previous statements but asked about additional Royal Navy ships put on standby in light of escalating tensions.

Question

I welcome what the Defence Secretary has to say. These attacks on Red sea shipping must stop. They destabilise regional security, disrupt international trade and put civilian and military lives in danger. We back the UK action with allies in the new maritime protection force, and the joint statement condemning the Houthi attacks that the Secretary of State just mentioned. He announced today but has not mentioned to the House that HMS Richmond is sailing to the Gulf. In the light of these escalating tensions, what other Royal Navy ships has he put on stand-by for the region?

Answer from Grant Shapps

I did not mention that specifically because I have already made a written ministerial statement to the House. HMS Richmond is sailing to the region because both HMS Diamond and HMS Lancaster are already there, and eventually they will need to be swapped out. It is not escalation in terms. I want to repeat to the right hon. Gentleman, the House and the country that we will not tolerate trade being impacted globally in the manner in which the Houthis are impacting it.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No additional ships mentioned beyond HMS Richmond

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q5 John Healey Lab Rawmarsh and Conisbrough
Foreign Affairs
Context

The MP pressed on the need for updates through parliamentary statements should additional measures be necessary.

Question

When the UK took the important step of joining Operation Prosperity Guardian, the Secretary of State gave the House this update in a written statement. He has done the same today, alongside his comments at questions. If further action is required to deter Houthi attacks and to safeguard freedom of shipping in the Red sea, will he undertake to provide Parliament with an oral statement?

Answer from Grant Shapps

Yes.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email
Q6 Martin Docherty SNP
Defence Employment
Context

The MP raised concerns about the sustainability of current and future operations given recent declines in naval intake numbers.

Question

Thank you, Mr Speaker, and a very happy new year to you and to the House. The Secretary of State is right to highlight the geopolitical and economic threat from the Houthi-led attacks in the Red sea, as well as the need to participate in Operation Prosperity Guardian, but could he advise the House of how sustainable this and future joint operations will be when increasing numbers of sailors have left the service, and the intake to replace them in the 12 months to March 2023 plunged by 22.1%?

Answer from Grant Shapps

First, I am confident that we will be able to continue or increase our actions. We complete all our operational requirements at the moment. The hon. Gentleman is right to say that it is a very tight labour market, but I think that is a subject for celebration in this House: we are seeing such low sustained unemployment, even through some pretty turbulent times. We will redouble our efforts to ensure that all our military services can recruit the people they need.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific measures provided beyond confidence and general statements

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Get updates like this by email