COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES AND REPUBLIC OF IRELAND (IMMUNITIES) ORDER 1970 (Hansard, 23 April 1970)

§ LORD SHEPHERD
My Lords, with permission, in moving the first Order I will speak also to the second. Neither of these Orders provides for any extension of immunities; they provide merely that certain countries which have become independent countries within the Commonwealth, may have their names added to those of the other countries who enjoy these particular immunities and privileges. I hope that in these circumstances the House will agree to approve these two Orders. I beg to move.

THE EARL OF BESSBOROUGH
My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for bring-nig these Orders forward. I should like to make just one or two remarks. I gather that these Orders are consequential on the achievement of independence by the island of Nauru, in the Pacific, and also by Swaziland and Mauritius. We welcome the independence of these countries and therefore welcome the Orders, but I understand that all these countries became independent in 1968. I should therefore like to ask the noble Lord (I am sorry I could not give him notice) what the position has been about diplomatic immunity between then and now for representatives of these countries. Should not these Orders have been made at the time of independence? Why does the first Order, for example, the Commonwealth Countries and Republic of Ireland (Immunities) Order 1970, apply to only Nauru, in the Pacific, which as we know has a population of some 6,000? Has not a similar Order been made for Mauritius and Swaziland, and, if so, why was Nauru not included in that Order? While welcoming these Orders in principle, I should be grateful for an answer from the noble Lord on those points.

§ LORD SHEPHERD
My Lords, I did not quite appreciate that the "cricket season" had commenced. This is one of 860 those "fast overs" and I fear that I can-not give the noble Earl an explanation on the first question that he put. But my understanding is that the reason the other countries are not in the first Order is that the Act has already been applied to them; but I will certainly look into the matter and write to the noble Earl. I apologise. I have a good deal of information, but that particular aspect was not covered.

THE MARQUESS OF WILLINGDON
My Lords, would not the Minister agree that these countries have not previously had diplomatic representatives here and have just applied for them now?

§ LORD SHEPHERD
No, my Lords, the diplomatic representatives of Mauritius and Swaziland have been in London for some time. I gather that diplomatic immunities have been given to them because of their status as High Commissioners here, but this Order is to regularise the position of dual nationals.