HC Deb 01 November 1999 vol 337 cc56-7W
21. Mr. Davidson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to re-examine the rules under which the assets of convicted criminals are confiscated; and what steps he is planning to take to ensure that full disclosure of assets takes place. [95010]

Mr. Charles Clarke

While the courts already have extensive powers to require disclosure of assets following a conviction, and to order confiscation, the Government are preparing a package of measures to strengthen further the investigation, tracing and confiscation of criminal proceeds. The proposals will take account of the Home Office Working Group on Confiscation, whose report was published in November and is available in the Library, and of a recently initiated study by the Cabinet Office's Performance and Innovation Unit, which will be completed early next year.