Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what reports he has received on a likely release date for Billy Irving and his 34 colleagues from the anti-piracy ship held in India since October 2013.

We continue to follow the case of Mr Irving and his colleagues extremely closely. The men are currently on release in India while their case is considered by the Indian judicial system. The Supreme Court will consider it in February, but we cannot predict when this will conclude. We recognise how difficult this is for the men and their families and have repeatedly called on the Indian authorities for a speedy resolution to the case to allow the men to be reunited with their families. We will continue to use all appropriate opportunities to do so.