§ Mr. Jim MurphyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will freeze the assets of organisations in 893W the United Kingdom that finance (a) Hamas, (b) Fatah and (c) other Palestinian and middle east terrorist organisations. [25459]
§ Ruth KellyThe Government are committed to the fight against terrorism and since the events of 11 September 2001 have led by example in issuing asset freeze lists against individuals and organisations. A total of £72 million has been frozen in connection with groups involved in financing terrorist activities.
The Government imposed a freeze on the assets held in the UK for the Holy Land Foundation, which is suspected of financing terrorist activities of Hamas, on 6 December 2001.
Where there are "reasonable grounds to suspect" that any organisation is involved in the financing of terrorism the Government will not hesitate to add their name to the 328 individuals and organisations who have already been targeted with assets freezes.