Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the Somalia pirates’ hijacking of an Indian vessel on 1 April, whether they intend to further press the government of India regarding the release of the British ex-servicemen known as the Chennai Six who were arrested while on anti-piracy duties in October 2013; and what representations they have made to the government of India about the proportion of the five-year sentences which should be served.

The Prime Minister, the Foreign Secretary and the Minister for Asia and the Pacific have all raised this case in meetings with counterparts during recent visits to India and made clear the importance of seeing progress. Most recently the Foreign Secretary raised the case with Minister of State for External Affairs M J Akbar during his visit in January.

While we do not seek to interfere in the legal process of another country, we continue to urge swift due process and await the verdict of the men's appeal.