The British Government are pleased to provide the operational headquarters for Operation Atalanta and, as an EU member state, receive regular updates of its progress. The EU presence in the critical Gulf of Aden trade artery and wider Indian ocean, alongside naval forces from NATO, the Combined Maritime Forces and other contributing nations has contributed significantly to the reduction in the number of successful hijackings in recent months, The Government, with the agreement of parliamentary scrutiny committees, are pleased to support the proposed extension of Operation Atalanta to December 2014. The Government are hopeful that the EU Foreign Affairs Council will soon be able to adopt formally the extension.As was made clear during the London Conference on Somalia, the Government remain committed to international efforts to counter piracy, and have just submitted their response to the Foreign Affairs Committee's report into Somali piracy. This response gives a comprehensive picture of all Government activity against piracy, including sustainable regional prosecution and imprisonment solutions, working with the shipping industry and action to break the piracy business model. A copy has been laid before the House.