Terrorism (Hansard, 31 October 2002)

§ Mr. Ancram
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions his Department had with other government departments, concerning(a) proscribing Jemaah Islamiyah under the Terrorism Act 2000 and (b) freezing the assets of that group; and if he will make a statement. [78324]

§ Mr. Straw
On 23 October 2002 my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer instructed the Bank of England to issue notice requiring all UK banks and financial institutions to freeze the assets of Jemaah Islamiyah. This action was taken in co-ordination with the submission of Jemaah Islamiyah to the United Nations Sanctions Committee in New York. Jemaah Islamiyah was formally added to the United National Sanctions List under Security Council Resolution 1390 on 25 October.
On 28 October 2002 my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary laid before this House the statutory instrument for the proscription of Jemaah Islamiyah in the UK. This issue was debated by both Houses of Parliament on 30 October 2002 and the Order will now come into force on 1 November 2002.
Both of these actions were taken after close consultation between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Her Majesty's Treasury and the Home Office.

§ Mr. Ancram
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information his Department has collated concerning links between Jemaah Islamiyah and organisations(a) based in Europe, (b) with assets held in Europe and (c) with close links to groups resident in Europe; and if he will make a statement. [78325]

§ Mr. Straw
The Jemaah Islamiyah group based in South East Asia is not generally thought to operate outside that region and should not be confused with other Islamist groups elsewhere in the world that bear the same name. Information about terrorist groups and their finances is kept under constant review. We believe that the Jemaah Islamiyah group in South East Asia has strong links with the al Qaeda network and that al Qaeda maintains links with terrorists groups around the world, including Europe.
On 23 October 2002 the European Union cosponsored the submission of Jemaah Islamiyah to the United Nations Sanctions Committee in New York on the basis of that groups links to al Qaeda. Jemaah Islamiyah was added to the United Nations Sanctions List under Security Council Resolution 1390 on 25 October.