§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to conclude an agreement with India covering the confiscation of terrorist funds; if the agreement will be subject to debate or approval by the House; and if he will place relevant information, including the heads of agreement which are being negotiated, in the Library.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerI hope to conclude early in 1992 an agreement with the Government of the Republic of India concerning the tracing, restraint and confiscation of the proceeds and instruments of crime and terrorist funds. The agreement could not be brought into force without orders in council under the Drug Trafficking Offences Act 1986, the Criminal Justice Act 1988, the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 and the Criminal Justice 245W (International Co-operation) Act 1990. Each of these orders would require the affirmative resolution of both Houses of Parliament. The text of the agreement is still under discussion but will be published in due course.