Question to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade, with reference to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office's s document entitled The United Kingdom strongly condemns the Houthis’ decision to resume conflict in Yemen and their continued strikes on Saudi Arabia: UK statement at the UN Security Council, published on 10 September 2026, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of disruption to Red Sea shipping on UK importers, exporters and supply chains.

The Government is closely monitoring the impact of disruption in the Middle East to key shipping routes. This includes regularly assessing the impact on UK supply chains, disruption to trade, including any rerouting of container ships, and of increases in prices of critical goods, shipping and energy. In doing so, we are actively drawing input from businesses on supply chain pressures and their own contingency planning. We also continue to work with businesses and our international partners to protect trade and investment across the Gulf region.