Member

Finally, on Motion D, I stress again that it is the long-standing position adopted by successive Governments, including the previous one, that the Government do not provide a running commentary on which organisations are being considered for proscription. Furthermore, deciding whether an organisation needs proscribing requires intensive analysis, and it is not helpful to suggest that the Government should review every organisation linked to the Iranian Government within one month of Royal Assent. I note that the noble Lord has brought forward Amendment 439E, which would narrow the category of organisations within the scope of the duty, but my point is one of principle and still stands: we cannot reach decisions on proscription to an arbitrary timetable set in stone by statute.