To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assistance the UK is (a) sending and (b) planning to send to aid the United States' efforts to end piracy off the coast of Somalia in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean. (143234)

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what action is being taken by the Royal Navy against piracy off the coast of Somalia. (143331)

The UK currently has forces deployed as part of the Coalition Naval Task Force which operates in the Arabian sea and Indian ocean, including off the coast of Somalia. These assets are deployed on a range of maritime security tasks, and could respond to incidents of piracy should they arise.