Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the cost was of the UK's contribution to Operation Atalanta in each financial year from 2008-09 to 2013-14.

Since 2008 the Royal Navy has contributed to the coalition counter-piracy and counter-terrorism operations commanded by the European Union (EU), NATO, and Combined Maritime Forces (CMF). This has included the contribution of assets; and the provision of the Operational Headquarters and Operational Commander for the EU’s Operation ATALANTA; the NATO Maritime Commander and Maritime Headquarters that has overall command of Operation OCEAN SHIELD; and the Deputy Commander and supporting staff for the CMF. In addition, the Royal Navy maintains a constant presence, including at least one frigate or destroyer, in the Gulf region. Anti-piracy and anti-terrorism measures off the Horn of Africa, in the Gulf of Aden, and in the Arabian Gulf are among a number of concurrent tasks carried out by the Royal Navy and supporting assets, and expenditure incurred on these operations is not identified separately. The common costs (ie those shared by EU and NATO members that are additional to the national contribution of the operation) for the EU and NATO are as follows:

Operation ATALANTA:

Operation OCEAN SHIELD: