To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports she has received on the funding which has been accrued by the Al Qaeda terrorist network from charitable bodies in Saudi Arabia; and if she will make a statement. (143046)

Preventing the misuse of charitable organisations for the financing of terrorist groups, including Al-Qaeda, is an important part of the international counter-terrorism effort.

Our international counter-terrorism partners, including Saudi Arabia, are concerned that terrorists are able to send and receive funds, often through abuses of the charitable sector, from sources in many countries. A number of Saudi Arabian based charities are currently designated on the UN Consolidated List established and maintained by the 1267 Committee with respect to Al-Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, the Taliban and other individuals, groups, and entities associated with them.

The Saudi Arabian authorities are committed to tackling the threat from terrorism and we work closely with them on all aspects of the counter-terrorism agenda.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is currently funding a £1.2 million International Programme run by the UK Charity Commission that works to reduce the risk of misuse of the charitable sector for terrorist financing. They provide technical assistance and capacity building for the regulatory systems in a number of countries, including Saudi Arabia.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether investigations by the UK Government and their agencies have shown that any terrorist activities since 11 September 2001 have been funded by groups based in Saudi Arabia; and if she will make a statement. (143269)

The Government are concerned that terrorists are able to send and receive funds from sources in many countries. As a matter of course, we do not comment in detail on ongoing counter-terrorism investigations.

The authorities in Saudi Arabia have introduced and are developing a programme to take action to tackle terrorist financing. They have introduced tighter banking regulations and are seeking to ensure that donations from charitable organisations in the Kingdom are directed in accordance with international requirements. Saudi Arabia is one of the UK's key partners in counter- terrorism and we enjoy a high level of co-operation across the spectrum, including countering terrorist financing.