Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of Unexplained Wealth Orders in tackling the illicit arms trade and related financial flows in London.

The Government does not comment on the potential use of Unexplained Wealth Orders against individuals. They are available for use in cases of serious crime including arms trafficking and related money laundering.

Where assets are suspected of representing the proceeds of crime, the NCA and others consider all cases for denial and recovery activity across the full range of criminal and civil approaches, including the new tools introduced in the Criminal Finances Act such as Unexplained Wealth Orders. The Home Office continues to work with law enforcement agencies to encourage their use.