§ 2.48 p.m.
§ Lord SHINWELLMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government how many countries outside the United Kingdom have diplomatic representatives in this country, the number resident in London, and whether in every case there are reciprocal arrangements.
§ The PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY of STATE, FOREIGN and COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (Lord GORONWY-ROBERTS)My Lords, representatives of 131 foreign and Commonwealth countries are accredited to this country and of these 122 are resident in London. The United Kingdom is represented in 135 countries and in 121 of those the representative is resident.
§ Lord SHINWELLMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer. Am I to understand that these diplomatic representatives from other countries have the privilege of several immunities. Also, is he in a position to say specifically what those immunities are, and whether similar immunities are available to our diplomatic representatives in other countries?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, they are indeed entitled to privilege and immunity. These rights derive from 194 the Vienna Convention of 1964, to which this country, like practically every other country in the world, was a signatory. In regard to reciprocity of concession, I can assure my noble friend that both in regard to the numbers accredited by this country in other countries, and the total number accredited by other countries in this country, as well as in regard to the concessions available, both at the diplomatic level and at the restricted technical and administrative level, reciprocity is complete.
§ Lord SHINWELLMy Lords, as there appears to be a suspicion that some diplomatic representatives have conferred upon them immunities which appear to have no validity, which give rise to confusion and which seem to indicate special privileges, would it not be desirable for my noble friend to state specifically what these immunities are—if not orally, to circulate the facts—so that noble Lords and the public can be informed on the subject, and at the same time ascertain whether similar immunities are available to our diplomatic representatives abroad?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I can give an absolute assurance on the second point raised by my noble friend. In regard to the possibility of circulating, in appropriate form, the full list of immunities and privileges applicable to both the diplomatic list and to the technical and administrative staffs, which is more extensive, I can and I will.
Lord INGLEWOODMy Lords, could the noble Lord give us the total number of individuals who are entitled to diplomatic immunity in this country, and could he say whether they are subject to the control of firearms legislation?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, 2,110 diplomatic staff, with their families, are entitled to full immunities and privileges which, I believe, includes the item that the noble Lord mentioned. A further 2,574 officials, technical and administrative, are entitled to restricted immunities and privileges.
§ Lord BARNBYMy Lords, with regard to the tally which the Minister has just given, could he indicate whether individual countries like Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, all illegally seized by Russia, are still regarded as separate units, 195 or are they included in the return for Russia?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, they are included in the return for the Soviet Union.
§ Baroness WOOTTON of ABINGERMy Lords, is the Minister aware that children appearing in juvenile courts have been known to plead diplomatic immunity by virtue of the occupations of their parents?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I was not actually aware of this, but no doubt my noble friend who answers on Home Office matters will have taken due note of that interesting fact.
Lord HAWKEMy Lords, do the figures that the noble Lord has given include those numerous international commissions who are entitled to some form of diplomatic immunity?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, the figures I gave in reply to the supplementary put by my noble friend included international organisations which have either their headquarters here in London, or indeed offices in London with headquarters in other countries.
§ Lord COTTESLOEMy Lords, can the Minister tell us in how many cases of parking offences in London diplomatic immunity was claimed last year?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSNot, my Lords, without notice.
§ Lord MAELORMy Lords, could the Minister state whether, when Wales gets Home Rule next year, she will have a diplomatic representative here in London?
§ Lord SHEPHERDMy Lords, may I intervene? I think that that again is a question very wide of the mark, and I suggest that we now move to the next business.