To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects the Government to ratify the 2005 Protocol to the 1988 Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts Against the Safety of Maritime Navigation; and if he will make a statement. (293139)

[holding answer 15 October 2009]: The Government remain committed to ratifying the protocol which we signed in January 2007, although we do not yet have a firm timetable for introduction of the required Bill into Parliament.