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Written question asked by Daniel Kawczynski (Conservative) on Thursday, 19 November 2009, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 23 November 2009. It was answered by Alan Johnson (Labour) on Tuesday, 30 March 2010 on behalf of the Home Office.

Extremist Websites

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the list of extremist websites, bookshops, networks, centres and organisations announced by the then Prime Minister on 5 August 2005 was first established; on what dates the list has been updated; whether the deportation of a foreign national has been (a) considered and (b) executed on the grounds of active engagement with one of the organisations on the list; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the most recent edition of the list.
Answer

The Prime Minster's announcement on 5 August 2005 set out a 12 point plan designed to counter the threat of terrorism. As my right hon. Friend the former Home Secretary said on 1 September 2008, Official Report, column 1594W, significant progress had been made on the 12 point plan and that all counter-terrorist work was now subsumed into the Government's long-term counter-terrorist strategy (the Contest strategy).The Home Secretary may make a deportation order where he is satisfied that deportation is conducive to the public good. The basis for such a decision could include, for example, the individual being engaged in the promotion or dissemination of extremist material (including via websites, bookshops, networks, centres and organisations). The police and other law enforcement and intelligence partners work closely to identify sources of extremism. Where an individual is found to have been engaged in the encouragement of terrorism or dissemination of terrorist publications, the police and CPS would seek to prosecute them. In the case of a foreign national engaged in extremist activities, we seek to deport them. In the case of organisations, the Terrorism Act 2000 allows an organisation to be proscribed if the Home Secretary believes it is concerned in terrorism. The Terrorism Act 2006 extended the meaning of concerned in terrorism to include the unlawful glorification of acts of terrorism.I am not prepared to comment on individual cases of deportation. I can, however, confirm that individuals who are suspected to have engaged in extremist activity have been deported on grounds that their presence in the UK not being considered conducive to the public good. I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to him on 30 November 2009, Official Report, column 474W, which provide the number of foreign nationals deported from the UK on the grounds of unacceptable behaviour (relating to foreign nationals who foment hatred or violence in support of their extremist beliefs).The police and other counter-terrorism partners seek to identify extremist websites, bookshops, networks, centres and organisations. A list of proscribed organisations is available on the Home Office website at:"http://security.homeoffice.gov.uk/terrorist-threat/proscribed-terrorist-orgs/proscribed-terrorist-groups/index.html"For national security reasons it is not possible to provide details of all such websites, premises or organisations of concern.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
508 c934W; 301377
Session
2009-10
Subjects
Internet Terrorism
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk