INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS (IMMUNITIES AND PRIVILEGES OF THE INTERNATIONAL TIN COUNCIL) (AMENDMENT) ORDER, 1957 (Hansard, 18 July 1957)

THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFATRS (THE EARL OF GOSFORD)

My Lords, I beg to move the motion for an Humble Address to Her Majesty standing in my name on the Order Paper. This Order was considered by the Special Orders Committee of your Lordships' House on June 4. When the noble Marquess, Lord Reading, presented the International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges of the International Tin Council) Order, 1956, to your Lordships' House on July 25, 1956, which Order was subsequently passed by your Lordships, he foreshadowed that this further Order, which deals with the income tax exemptions of the individual members of the staff of the Tin Council, would have to be presented at some later date, since the original Order dealt only with the International Tin Council as a corporate body. As your Lordships know the headquarters of the Tin Council is situated in London. Her Majesty's Government see advantage in this.

This new Order is very limited in scope It is limited to the salaries of the executives of the Council. Furthermore, it does not apply to the British employees of the Council. The Council consists of 13 executives, of which 7 are British. Therefore this Order concerns only 6 people in all, though in certain circumstances this 1335 number might vary slightly one way or the other. This Order, relieving the non-British employees of the Tin Council of income tax on their salaries, is, in fact, of no personal benefit to these employees, since their salaries are already expressed as so much "net after tax". What it does mean is that by refraining from imposing income tax on foreign members of the staff Her Majesty's Government will not be recovering part of their own contribution to the Council's Administrative Account. I would remind your Lordships that this is a privilege granted also to the European Coal and Steel Community. I beg to move.