§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many bank accounts have been investigated under anti-terrorist legislation in each of the last five years. [40665]
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§ Sir John WheelerIt is policy not to comment in detail on these matters. I can, however, assure the hon. Gentleman that the legislation is vigorously applied and used to good effect.
§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to improve legislation in respect of funding of terrorist organisations. [40664]
§ Sir John WheelerThe Proceeds of Crime (Northern Ireland) Order 1996, which came into force on 26 August, incorporates, builds upon and extends the terrorist finance provisions which previously existed in the Northern Ireland (Emergency Provisions) Act 1991 and would have been used to good effect against terrorist racketeers. The order strengthens and improves the measures available to confiscate the proceeds of drug trafficking and other serious crime, much of which is believed to be terrorist linked.
The new powers extend at least as wide as the Emergency Provisions Act terrorist finance investigation and confiscation powers which they replace and are capable of being used to assist in tracing the ill-gotten gains of all racketeers, whether terrorists or not.
§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the operation of legislation in respect of the funding of terrorist organisations. [40662]
§ Sir John WheelerThe Government and the police recognise the importance of illegal finance and in the fight against terrorism a range of measures has been taken to counter it. The police have established specialist resources which have successfully investigated a wide variety of illegal terrorist funding activities including exploitation of social clubs to raise money through fraud and scams, extortion rackets, counterfeiting and tax exemption fraud.
The Government have taken measures to counter terrorist finance in Northern Ireland and these provisions are contained in the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989 and the Proceeds of Crime (Northern Ireland) Order 1996.
§ Rev. Martin SmythTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many people have been charged under funding of terrorist organisations legislation. [40663]
§ Sir John WheelerThe number of persons against whom proceedings have commenced for offences contrary to sections 9 to 11 of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act 1989, between 1991 and 1995 was 217; but there have been few convictions for contravention of part III of the Act primarily because of the lack of evidence to prove a terrorist link to finance offences. However, the absence of convictions is not a true indicator of the value of the legislative provisions. The existence of the powers deters the terrorists; it causes them unease and it disrupts their activities.