Ulster Unionist Peer Lord Empey met with Minister of State at the Home Office, Baroness Williams of Trafford, yesterday to discuss his amendment to the Criminal Finances Bill which aims to secure compensation for victims of Libyan sponsored IRA terrorism.
Lord Empey said:
“The Criminal Finances Bill is currently progressing its way through the House of Lords under the stewardship of Baroness Williams of Trafford. I met with her and Home Office officials to explore the scope for including my amendment to the legislation. The Bill aims to ‘significantly improve’ the Government’s ability to tackle money laundering and corruption; recover the proceeds of crime; and counter terrorist financing. My amendment would insert a new Clause which would unfreeze assets owned by persons (including states and legal entities) involved in supplying arms to terrorist organisations.
“Many will be aware that I have been campaigning on behalf of the victims of Gadaffi sponsored IRA terrorism since 2002. It is my goal to see a reasonable portion of the £9.5 billion worth of Libyan frozen assets in the UK being used by the Government to compensate the UK victims of Libyan sponsored terrorism. This would bring UK victims parity with those in France, Germany and the USA who received compensation from the Libyan Government long ago.
“I am currently in discussions with legal advisors and Parliamentary colleagues from both Houses and all parties to see if my amendment can fully achieve all of our aims within the parameters of the Criminal Finances Bill. The Bill will be back in the Lords on 25 April for its Report Stage and we will decide whether to push the amendment or not.
“Meanwhile, my party colleague Tom Elliott MP is pressing the case in the Commons with his application for a Backbench Business debate on the issue likely to be accepted.
“My message to the Government yesterday was clear and simple. The UK victims, Parliamentary colleagues and I will not desist in our determined efforts to secure a satisfactory resolution to this appalling situation.”
ENDS