Sharia law may stop MPs drinking: Bars will be banned if politicians move to Department of Health - because of secret deal to finance Islamic bond scheme
- Department of Health building is governed by the body of Islamic law
- The lease was transferred to finance an Islamic bond scheme in 2014
- MPs are searching for new home while Parliament undergoes £4bn repairs
MPs
could be forced to stop drinking alcohol when they move out of the
Palace of Westminster while it undergoes much-needed repairs over the
next decade – because of Sharia law.
Earlier
this week plans were revealed for MPs to be rehoused in a temporary
chamber in a courtyard in the Department of Health, but it has emerged
that the building is governed by Islamic law.
The building, located at 79 Whitehall, was quietly transferred to finance an Islamic bond scheme in 2014.
Barred: MPs
have been warned that drinking will be banned if they move to a
temporary home in the Department of Health while Parliament undergoes
maintenance
The proposal to move to the Department
of Health is among the most popular because it is housed just 100 yards
from the Commons entrance and many MPs' offices are in the adjacent
building at 1 Parliament Street
Revamp: Parliament is riddled with
asbestos, leaking ceilings and rodents and was described as a 'death
trap' by one close to the refurbishment plans
Under terms of the lease, alcohol is one of the activities banned on the premises, according to The Times.
A
Whitehall official told the newspaper: 'It's true. If MPs want to use
Richmond House they'd better give up any hopes it will include a bar.'
Richmond
House is one of three Whitehall buildings that were transferred to the
£200million Islamic bond scheme, which switched their ownership from
British taxpayers to wealthy Middle Eastern businessmen and banks.
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George Osborne announced the move in June 2014 as part of an effort to make the UK a global hub for Islamic finance.
But
critics say the scheme would waste money and could undermine Britain's
financial and legal systems by imposing Sharia law onto government
premises.
The bonds – known as Sukuk – are only available for purchase by Islamic investors.
The money raised will be repayable from 2019.
But
instead of interest, bond-buyers will earn rental income from the three
Government offices as interest payments are banned in Sharia law.
The
Treasury agreed to make the sukuk fully compliant with Sharia law to
ensure investors were not put off investing in the scheme, meaning each
of the buildings used to finance the products must meet the terms of
Sharia law, including the ban on alcohol.
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