Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risks of private maritime security companies becoming non-compliant through expiry of anti-piracy licences; and what impact this would have on international shipping.

All Private Maritime Security Companies (PMSCs) operating in the former Indian Ocean High Risk Area (HRA) require approval under the Open General Trade Control Licence for Maritime Anti-Piracy (OGTCL MA-P). Once granted by the Export Control Joint Unit, this approval is open-ended for as long as the PMSC remains active in the maritime anti-piracy sector and abides by the terms of the OGTCL MA-P licence.

ECJU would inform His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs, which is responsible for the enforcement of the UK export licensing regime, if they became aware of any breaches of licence conditions.