Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, a) how many asset recovery cases involving cooperation with the United Arab Emirates have resulted in funds being returned to UK victims since 2020; b) what metrics are used to measure the operational effectiveness of the UK–UAE illicit finance partnership; and c) whether that partnership is being applied to support recovery in cases including the High Court judgment in Njord Partners SMA-Seal LP & ors v Astir Maritime & ors [2024].

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The UK–UAE Partnership to Tackle Illicit Financial Flows is focused on strengthening how we work together on illicit finance, fraud and asset recovery, including the return of the proceeds of crime.

Since it was established in 2021, the UK and the UAE have worked closely to improve cooperation between our law enforcement agencies, to share information more effectively, and to put in place stronger arrangements to support joint operational work.

The effectiveness of the partnership and these objectives are kept under regular review through established operational and governance arrangements that support this cooperation.

Decisions on asset sharing are taken on a case‑by‑case basis. Asset sharing allows recovered funds to be shared with other jurisdictions where there has been joint effort to recover criminal proceeds, and helps to encourage continued international cooperation in this area.

The UK publishes annual statistics on domestic and international asset recovery through the Asset Recovery Annual Statistical Bulletin, which includes data on completed international asset sharing arrangements. The Home Office is not able to comment on, or make assessments in relation to, individual cases.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, a) how many mutual legal assistance requests relating to the enforcement of civil fraud judgments have been made to the United Arab Emirates since 2022; b) in how many cases those requests have resulted in enforcement action; c) and whether mutual legal assistance has been sought in relation to the High Court judgment in Njord Partners SMA-Seal LP & ors v Astir Maritime & ors [2024].

Answered by Dan Jarvis - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)

The UK Central authority within the Home Office leads on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. This question would be for the Foreign Process Section at the Royal Courts of Justice who are the Central Authority for mutual legal assistance in civil matters.

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, a) what assessment he has made of the average time required to secure the recognition and enforcement in the United Arab Emirates of civil fraud judgments of the High Court of England and Wales; and b) what representations he has made to his UAE counterparts since September 2025 regarding enforcement cooperation in such cases, including Njord Partners SMA-Seal LP & ors v Astir Maritime & ors [2024].

Answered by Hamish Falconer - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The UK regularly engages with the UAE authorities on a range of judicial and legal cooperation issues through established bilateral channels. As a longstanding policy, the Government does not comment on individual legal cases.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, a) what role the enforceability of UK court judgments plays in the Government’s assessment of financial services cooperation and market access discussions with the United Arab Emirates; and b) whether the non-enforcement to date of the High Court judgment in Njord Partners SMA-Seal LP & ors v Astir Maritime & ors [2024] has been raised in that context.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury takes a range of factors into account when discussing financial services cooperation and market access with overseas jurisdictions, including the regulatory framework in those jurisdictions and the competitiveness of the UK market. HM Treasury has not discussed with the UAE in that context the High Court judgment in Njord Partners SMA-Seal LP & ors v Astir Maritime & ors [2024].

Civil and commercial judgments from courts in the UK may be enforceable in other countries if permitted by the domestic law of the country concerned. Additionally, by joining the 2019 Hague Judgments Convention, the Government took an important step in strengthening the UK’s framework for the recognition and enforcement of such judgments.

The Convention entered into force for the UK on 1 July 2025 and may provide greater certainty, reduced costs and quicker resolution in relevant cross‑border disputes. Being Party to the Convention offers a clearer route to the enforcement of in-scope UK civil judgments, including those based on fraud, in other Contracting Parties.

The UAE is not Party to the 2019 Hague Convention. Whether a particular UK civil judgment is enforceable in the UAE is therefore determined by UAE domestic law.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, a) what assessment she has made of the potential impact on the international competitiveness of UK financial and legal services of instances in which High Court fraud judgments are not enforced overseas; and b) whether her Department has considered the potential implications of the High Court judgment in Njord Partners SMA-Seal LP & ors v Astir Maritime & ors [2024] for investor confidence in cross-border enforcement.

Answered by Lucy Rigby - Economic Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Treasury takes a range of factors into account when discussing financial services cooperation and market access with overseas jurisdictions, including the regulatory framework in those jurisdictions and the competitiveness of the UK market. HM Treasury has not discussed with the UAE in that context the High Court judgment in Njord Partners SMA-Seal LP & ors v Astir Maritime & ors [2024].

Civil and commercial judgments from courts in the UK may be enforceable in other countries if permitted by the domestic law of the country concerned. Additionally, by joining the 2019 Hague Judgments Convention, the Government took an important step in strengthening the UK’s framework for the recognition and enforcement of such judgments.

The Convention entered into force for the UK on 1 July 2025 and may provide greater certainty, reduced costs and quicker resolution in relevant cross‑border disputes. Being Party to the Convention offers a clearer route to the enforcement of in-scope UK civil judgments, including those based on fraud, in other Contracting Parties.

The UAE is not Party to the 2019 Hague Convention. Whether a particular UK civil judgment is enforceable in the UAE is therefore determined by UAE domestic law.

Protection and restoration of ancient woodland

World Curlew Day

Found: Current membership Mr Alistair Carmichael (Liberal Democrat; Orkney and Shetland) (Chair) Sarah Bool

Found: Current membership Mr Alistair Carmichael (Liberal Democrat; Orkney and Shetland) (Chair) Sarah Bool

Found: Email: eo@porthealthassociation.co.uk https://porthealthassociation.com Mr Alistair Carmichael

Found: This letter, dated 28 April 2026, from Rt Hon Mr Alistair Carmichael MP, Chair of the Environment, Food

Found: Current membership Mr Alistair Carmichael (Liberal Democrat; Orkney and Shetland) (Chair) Sarah Bool

Found: I am writing I similar terms to Alistair Carmichael MP as Chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Found: visit note Date: Wednesday 18 March 2026 Location: Cannock Chase, Staffordshire Attendees  Mr Alistair Carmichael

Found: Wednesday 18 March 2026 Location: Harper Adams University, Newport, Shropshire Att endees • Mr Alistair Carmichael

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Alistair Carmichael (Chair); Sarah Bool; Juliet Campbell; Charlie

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Alistair Carmichael (Chair); Sarah Bool; Juliet Campbell; Charlie

Found: 20 4551 0011 E Dearden.Correspondence@businessandtrade.gov.uk W gov.uk/dbt The Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael

Found: Current membership Mr Alistair Carmichael (Liberal Democrat; Orkney and Shetland) (Chair) Sarah Bool

Found: placing a copy of this letter in the House libraries and have written on similar terms to Alistair Carmichael

Found: Committee Attendees  Mr Alistair Carmichael MP (Chair)  Jayne Kirkham MP  Josh Newbury MP  Charlie

Found: Chair Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael MP Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee House of Commons

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Alistair Carmichael (Chair); Juliet Campbell; Charlie Dewhirst; Sarah

Found: Watch the meeting Members present: Alistair Carmichael (Chair); Juliet Campbell; Charlie Dewhirst; Sarah

Found: 14 April 2026, from the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee, chaired by Rt Hon Mr Alistair Carmichael

Found: +44 (0) 3459 335577 E: correspondence.section@defra.gov.uk W: gov.uk/defra Mr Alistair Carmichael

Found: DEFRA’s Failings as Identified in EFRA’ s Own Findings Rt Hon Mr Alistair Carmichael MP House of Commons

Found: 1 The Rt Hon Mr Alistair Carmichael (Chair) Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee House

Found: Affairs Committee House of Commons London SW1A 0AA 23 March 2026 Dear Alistair Carmichael

Found: Alistair Carmichael MP Chair of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee House of Commons London