Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps he is taking to help improve the protection of cargo ships in the Red Sea from Houthi missile and drone attacks.

The UK Government strongly condemns the illegal and abhorrent attacks by the Houthis on merchant vessels; we are clear the Houthis must end their aggression immediately.

The Department for Transport, supported by the Royal Navy's UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) organisation, continue to provide UK-flagged shipping with advice on the risk posed by the Houthis to merchant vessels.

We continue to seek to work with regional partners on a long-term strategy to contain the Houthi threat and are committed to a future Yemen Peace Process.