<p>The UK is committed to ratifying the Cape Town Convention on international interests in mobile equipment and the Protocol thereto on matters specific to aircraft equipment. The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) continues to work closely with industry representatives on the benefits of ratification.</p><p>I shall be publishing a response to the call for evidence in the near future which will set out the next steps for ratification. The Convention and Protocol on matters specific to aircraft equipment contain a number of</p><p>options for how the UK implements the treaty. BIS intends to consult industry representatives on these options. In the last few months a cross-department steering board has been established to monitor progress on ratification.</p><p>The Government does not intend to ratify the space protocol as it has been advised by the space industry that a system of protection for creditors already exists. The Government is supportive of the benefits of the rail protocol; however, this is still being negotiated at European level and no decision will be taken whether the UK ratifies the rail protocol until these discussions have concluded.</p>