§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Prime Minister what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to ascertain details of precursor chemicals exported from the UK to South America suitable for use in the processing of drugs; and what action his Department is taking. [95546]
§ The Prime MinisterExports to South American and other countries of precursor chemicals which might be used in the illicit manufacture of drugs are controlled and monitored by the UK in accordance with the UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances 1988 and the relevant EU Regulation implementing these controls in the European Union.
The chemicals which are included in such controls are listed therein and subject to regular review by the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
§ Mr. DalyellTo ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to his oral answer of 19 October 1999,Official Report, column 261, what is the timetable for the action he proposes to take to counter the lack of traceability of drug money; and if he will make a statement on the range of measures he proposes to take. [95548]
§ The Prime MinisterThe Government strongly support action to combat money laundering and so attack the crime on which it thrives.
At the European Council meeting at Tampere we agreed a range of special concrete actions against money laundering, listed in the Presidency Conclusions. They cover a wide range of initiatives to facilitate unproved asset tracing. The United Kingdom will be pressing for the conclusions to be converted into action by the Council and Commission as quickly as possible.
718WThe United Kingdom has taken a leading role in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the leading international anti-money laundering body. In accordance with its recommendations, United Kingdom legislation already bans the use of anonymous bank accounts, as they may be used to conceal criminal proceeds. Law enforcement authorities in all member states must have the ability, as they do in the United Kingdom, to trace the proceeds of drug trafficking and other crimes, subject to judicial oversight but regardless of banking secrecy.
At the domestic level, the Government are examining how to strengthen existing legislation and arrangements for the investigation, restraint and seizure of criminal proceeds. I have approved a study by the Performance and Innovation Unit of the role that following the money trail and seizing criminal assets can play in the fight against crime, and of how to maximise the effectiveness of these tools. The study will report early next year.