To ask Her Majesty's Government in the last three years (a) how many hostage-taking incidents by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean there have been; (b) which countries have paid ransoms for the release of hostages of Somali pirates; (c) what were the known levels of payment; (d) which countries have refused to pay ransoms to release hostages; and (e) what is the record of the release of hostages for each country concerned. [HL1445]

Between 2007 and 2009 there were 102 incidents where hostages were taken off the coast of Somalia. Forty seven took place in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea and 55 in the Gulf of Aden.

In most cases, negotiations on ransom payments are made between pirates and the shipping company affected, not necessarily the countries of origin of the hostages or the flag state of the ship, and details are often protected for a variety of commercial reasons. However, government policy on the payment of ransoms is clear: we will not make substantive concessions to hostage takers.