Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many unexplained wealth orders are in force; and what the total value of the assets covered by those orders is.

Three UWOs have been applied for, and all granted, since the power came into force in January. All these applications were made without notice and heard in private.

They relate to the investigation of assets totalling £22 million. Interim freezing orders have also been obtained against the properties, in London and the South East, so they cannot be sold, As the orders all relate to ongoing investigations, it would be inappropriate to release further information at the moment. The annual Asset Recovery Statistical Bulletin, published on 13 September, will include data on the number of UWOs obtained in the previous financial year.