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Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

The Minister of State, Home Office (Baroness Scotland of Asthal): My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Paul Goggins) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

I am pleased to announce that the third annual report of the appointed person under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 has been laid before Parliament. The appointed person is an independent person who scrutinises the use of the new search power introduced to support the law enforcement agencies to seize and forfeit criminal cash.

The report gives the appointed person's opinion as to the circumstances and manner in which the search powers conferred by the Act are being exercised. I am pleased that the appointed person, Andrew Clarke, has expressed satisfaction at the operation of the search power in its third year.

Over £36 million was seized under these powers last year. The power continues to be a welcome addition in the fight against crime and the report shows that its operation has been, and will continue to be, closely monitored.
 
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Zimbabwe: Immigration Removals

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: My right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department (Charles Clarke) has made the following Written Ministerial Statement.

On 27 June I made a Statement on the return of failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe and I would now like to update the House on returns to Zimbabwe and on the situation of those who are currently refusing food.

As I set out in my previous Statement, the Home Office assesses cases on their individual merits, providing protection to those who need it and seeking to remove from the UK those who do riot. Each case is considered thoroughly before removal proceeds and any new information or representations are examined accordingly.

There have also been reports in the media of alleged ill treatment of those who have been returned to
 
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Zimbabwe. We do not routinely monitor the treatment of individuals once removed from the UK, as I made clear in my earlier Statement. But our assessment of the situation on the ground is constantly monitored from a wide variety of sources, including the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, media reports and UK Government contacts with NGOs on the ground.

On 5 July there were 106 Zimbabweans being detained across the removal estate, 33 of whom have refused four or more consecutive meals. Food is available to all hunger strikers and they are seen daily by a medical practitioner to check their condition. None of them has been hospitalised at this stage.

As I stated before, we shall also continue our efforts, bilaterally and with our international partners, to press the government of Zimbabwe to end human rights abuses and restore democracy and the rule of law, so that all Zimbabweans can return safely to help build a prosperous and stable country.

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