§ Mr. FlightTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what funds belonging to al-Qaeda network have been frozen since September 2001. [102690]
§ Ruth KellyAs I indicated in my written answer of 18 February 2003,Official Report, column 184W, to the hon. Member for Hertford and Stortford (Mr. Prisk), more than £10 million has been frozen by UK financial institutions since 11 September 2001 under Orders applying United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1267 and 1390. Funds used by the Taliban have since been made available to the legitimate Government of Afghanistan. However the al-Qaeda and Taliban (United Nations Measures) Order provides for the continued freezing of accounts belonging to al-Qaeda. UK financial institutions indicate that amounts totalling £337,900 remain frozen under that Order.