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Terrorism Bill

I should like to question the Minister on one matter and follow up a point raised by the noble and learned Lord, Lord Lloyd of Berwick, whose views on this matter we fully support. He mentioned the case of Hisbut Tahrir, a Muslim organisation that has a somewhat unusual objective. Its main purpose is to recreate the caliphate. Historically the caliph was the religious and political leader of the entire Muslim community. Although the title did not disappear until 1924, it is fair to say that there has been no universal recognition of an individual as a caliph for about 1,200 years, so the aim of restoring it is plainly unrealistic. But as far as I am aware, and judging from the organisation’s public statements, Hisbut Tahrir advocates that its objective should be achieved purely by non-violent means. In those circumstances it has been suggested that one of the Government’s aims in Clause 21 is to proscribe Hisbut Tahrir. Obviously, I cannot ask the Minister what the Government’s objectives might be, but does she believe that as matters now stand Hisbut Tahrir is an organisation that could be proscribed under Clause 21?