To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the answer of 10 February 2009, Official Report, column 1878W, on Navy: deployment, what the outcome of his Department’s consideration of the commitment of naval resources to combat arms smuggling into Gaza has been; and if he will make a statement. (261742)

We are currently exploring a number of contingency options directed at countering arms smuggling into Gaza.

As part of this process, the UK participated in a conference on the 4-5 February in Copenhagen discussing how the international community might strengthen its efforts to help prevent the illicit flow of weapons into Gaza and agreed to meet again to explore further the measures discussed.

The UK will host the next conference in London on 13 March.