Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will make an assessment with Cabinet colleagues of the impact of terrorist acts by Houthi pirates in the Red Sea on ships heading to British ports.

Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea are unacceptable and must stop. The Government is working closely with international partners to degrade Houthi capabilities and deter them from carrying out further attacks.

My Department is working closely with other government departments to monitor the impacts of these events. Ships can reroute around the Cape of Good Hope, and many shipping operators are choosing to do so. This has added additional time and distance to vessel journeys, which may cause some initial delays to ship arrivals at British ports. Ship operators now have mitigations in place to adjust to the changed routings, and shipping schedules are stabilising with regular services and supply of goods continuing.