Ian McCartney dismissed the fears

This has led to fears that such laws could not withstand challenge under human rights legislation.

But those worries were dismissed by MP Ian McCartney, Minister at the Cabinet Office.

Mr McCartney - whose son died just over a year ago from a heroin overdose - said the new legislation will be compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights and the 1998 Human Rights Act.

The Tories and the Scottish National Party have voiced support for the proposals.

But SNP leader John Swinney has argued that legislation should be made in the Scottish Parliament because of the country's separate legal system.

Greater disclosure

The measures will be unveiled in the Queen's speech in Westminster next month.

They will propose a National Confiscation Agency in England and Wales, with a parallel agency in Scotland.

The new laws will also allow powers for far greater bank disclosure and will allow the Inland Revenue to pursue criminals for unpaid tax.

Scottish police have already said they would welcome the new law, known as civil forfeiture.

But the Scottish Human Rights Centre has voiced concerns.

"It is easy to see how, without very stringent safeguards, innocent people could suffer," said human rights lawyer John Scott.

The government estimates that Britain's illegal drug trade is now worth more than �8.5bn a year.