To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice pursuant to the answer of 19 February 2007, Official Report, column 290W, on Abu Hamza, when she expects to be in a position to provide details of claims on the legal aid fund by lawyers acting for Abu Hamza.

To ask the Minister of State, Ministry of Justice pursuant to the answer of 19 February 2007, Official Report, column 290W, on Abu Hamza, when she expects to be in a position to provide details of claims on the legal aid fund by lawyers acting for Abu Hamza.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will request a breakdown of the claims made on the legal aid fund by lawyers acting for Abu Hamza; and if she will make a statement.

To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs if she will request a breakdown of the claims made on the legal aid fund by lawyers acting for Abu Hamza; and if she will make a statement.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on Abu Hamza.

Westminster Hall adjournment debate on Abu Hamza.

No, I will not. The Economic Secretary will have a chance to answer, and time is short. If the Government had got their act together, the property could have been frozen as part of a benefits investigation. The Minister has told us that his Department was aware of the transfer...

No, I will not. The Economic Secretary will have a chance to answer, and time is short. If the Government had got their act together, the property could have been frozen as part of a benefits investigation. The Minister has told us that his Department was aware of the transfer...

The hon. Gentleman is right to say that if individual people are brought to the Treasury’s attention, they should be investigated. On his second point, yes, I will be talking about the evidence in due course.

The hon. Gentleman is right to say that if individual people are brought to the Treasury’s attention, they should be investigated. On his second point, yes, I will be talking about the evidence in due course.

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

I thank you for that guidance, Mr. Cook, and shall accelerate a little. The council was in touch with the security services after Hamza was placed on the UN sanctions list in 2002, shortly after a G8 Finance Ministers conference in Washington, I believe. However, according to residents in Aldbourne...

I thank you for that guidance, Mr. Cook, and shall accelerate a little. The council was in touch with the security services after Hamza was placed on the UN sanctions list in 2002, shortly after a G8 Finance Ministers conference in Washington, I believe. However, according to residents in Aldbourne...

As the hon. Gentleman may know, I was tracking Abu Hamza a year before he was. I asked my first questions about Hamza and his associates at about this time in 1998. I certainly agree with some of the hon. Gentleman’s points, but would like to make it clear that...

As the hon. Gentleman may know, I was tracking Abu Hamza a year before he was. I asked my first questions about Hamza and his associates at about this time in 1998. I certainly agree with some of the hon. Gentleman’s points, but would like to make it clear that...

I can confirm that that was absolutely not the case; his assets were not frozen by the Government in 2002. That is accepted wisdom, and I shall come to it. There is excessive evidence that Hamza was living in that property in Aldbourne road. Everyone accepted it, it seems, except...

I can confirm that that was absolutely not the case; his assets were not frozen by the Government in 2002. That is accepted wisdom, and I shall come to it. There is excessive evidence that Hamza was living in that property in Aldbourne road. Everyone accepted it, it seems, except...

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

The Economic Secretary will have a chance to respond in due course, but if he insists, I shall.

The Economic Secretary will have a chance to respond in due course, but if he insists, I shall.

Will the hon. Gentleman confirm that Abu Hamza’s assets were frozen by the Government following his UN designation?

Will the hon. Gentleman confirm that Abu Hamza’s assets were frozen by the Government following his UN designation?

Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Cook. I am coming on to explain how the funds that were raised from the purchase of the property on Adie road include some funds that are at issue in relation to central Government efforts to clamp down on terrorist financing. If you bear...

Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Cook. I am coming on to explain how the funds that were raised from the purchase of the property on Adie road include some funds that are at issue in relation to central Government efforts to clamp down on terrorist financing. If you bear...

I start by welcoming you to the Chair, Mr. Cook. Half an hour is too short a time in which to give a detailed examination of the issue in every respect, so I shall try to highlight only a few aspects. My central thesis is that none of the lessons...

I start by welcoming you to the Chair, Mr. Cook. Half an hour is too short a time in which to give a detailed examination of the issue in every respect, so I shall try to highlight only a few aspects. My central thesis is that none of the lessons...

Will the Economic Secretary give way?

Will the Economic Secretary give way?

No, I shall set out the facts first and then I will take an intervention. It will be worthwhile if I recap the facts to prevent further confusion. Abu Hamza already owned a property in Adie road when his assets were frozen. In June 2003, it was transferred for nil...

No, I shall set out the facts first and then I will take an intervention. It will be worthwhile if I recap the facts to prevent further confusion. Abu Hamza already owned a property in Adie road when his assets were frozen. In June 2003, it was transferred for nil...

Will the Economic Secretary give way?

Will the Economic Secretary give way?