To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to the answer of 19 November 2008, Official Report, column 655W, on Gulf of Aden: piracy, if he will provide a breakdown of the UK's (a) current and (b) planned contribution to the (i) EU and (ii) NATO and Combined Force 150 counter-piracy missions in the Horn of Africa. (240675)

I have been asked to reply.

In response to the increase in piracy in the Gulf of Aden, we are providing the operation commander and the operation headquarters to the European Security and Defence Policy operation. HMS Northumberland will be deployed for the first period of the operation.

Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 has been providing deterrence in support of the World Food Programme in the Gulf of Aden since October. HMS Cumberland was attached to Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 and is now leaving the region as the NATO mission comes to an end. NATO is considering further options for countering piracy in the region.

The UK will continue to provide a frigate to the Coalition Task Force 150 which contributes to a broad range of maritime security operations in the region including counter piracy. Our contribution to this Task Force will remain unaffected by contributions to NATO and/or EU counter-piracy operations.