§ 6.4 p.m.
§ THE MARQUESS OF LOTHIAN rose to move, That the Draft Eurocontrol (Immunities and Privileges) Order 1970, laid before the House on November 17, be approved. The noble Marquess said: My Lords, I shall be brief, and perhaps I may speak to both these Orders together. They are made under the International Organisations Act 1968 and confer immunities and privileges in respect of the Council of Europe's Human Rights institutions and the European Organisation for the Safety of Air 1094 Navigation, known as "Eurocontrol". The work of the Council of Europe's Human Rights institutions is well known to the House. The privileges and immunities to be conferred by this Order will assure the better functioning of the European Commission and Court, and I trust that this will commend the Order to this House. The Eurocontrol Order will enable Her Majesty's Government to ratify the Additional Protocol to the 1960 Eurocontrol Convention. It is estimated that the tax exemptions accorded under this Protocol will save the United Kingdom £300,000 a year. I am sure that, for this reason alone, the Order will commend itself to the House.
§ The noble Lord, Lord Shepherd, raised one point earlier about the 15-day limitation on immunity. It is considered that 15 days should be enough for people who have to leave the country after proceedings have been terminated and their presence is no longer required by the Tribunal. My understanding is that there is not at the moment any administrative procedure for warning people of the 15-day limit, although I am told that anybody who is worried about it can discover the position from a lawyer or the police or—I am given to understand—from the Council of Europe. I beg to move the first of the two Orders.
§ Moved, That the Draft Eurocontrol (Immunities and Privileges) Order 1970, laid before the House on November 17, be approved.—(The Marquess of Lothian.)