§ 18. Mr. Ernest Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the Inter-Departmental Committee considering State and diplomatic immunity is expected to issue its report.
§ Mr. EdenThe Inter-Departmental Committee, under the chairmanship of Lord Justice Somervell has issued a report on the questions falling within the field of diplomatic immunity which were submitted for its consideration, and I hope this report will be published shortly.
The committee has not issued a final report on the question of State immunity.
§ Mr. DaviesCan the Foreign Secretary tell me when he thinks it is likely that a Report on State immunity will be issued, and whether he will speed up other Departments which are considering this, if that is necessary? I am sure he will realise the urgency in this case, in view of the statement made by his noble Friend in the House of Lords yesterday indicating that the Tass Agency refuses to waive the immunity laws?
§ Mr. EdenI quite agree that there has been delay in publishing the report because, I think, other Departments have not given their consent. I am doing my best to see that it is published at once.
§ 19. Mr. Ernest Daviesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the number of persons in the United Kingdom in 1938, 1945 and at the latest convenient date who were entitled to diplomatic privileges and immunities; and the number of these whose entitlement arose solely through employment on the domestic staff of a head of mission.
§ Mr. EdenThe total number of persons enjoying privileges and immunities in the United Kingdom as diplomatic representatives of foreign States and as members of their suites in 1938 was 1,132, of whom 512 were employed in the personal 2368 households of heads of missions or in the chanceries of the missions. In 1945, the corresponding figures were 1,994 and 537; and, at the present time, they are 3,001 and 861.
In addition, privileges and immunities were granted in 1945 to 41 senior officials of international organisations. The corresponding figure at the present time is 172.
§ Mr. DaviesIn view of the rather rapid increase in the number of persons entitled to immunity, will the Foreign Secretary give urgent consideration to the report, to which he has recently referred, and see that some action is taken in this matter?