HC Deb 31 October 2000 vol 355 cc434-5W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on progress made at EU level on mutual recognition of decisions on freezing of assets. [134681]

Mrs. Roche

In my reply to the hon. Gentleman of 28 June 2000,Official Report, column 585W, I stated that discussions were taking place between member states of the European Union with regard to the application of the principle of mutual recognition applied to restraint of assets.

Since this reply there have been no further substantive discussions on this issue. However, I understand that the Presidency intend to table a draft legal instrument on the subject shortly.