HL Deb 23 March 1982 vol 428 cc923-4
Lord Boyd-Carpenter

My 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 what action they are taking to secure that arrears of rates amounting to nearly £500,000 owed to the Camden Borough Council in respect of the Soviet Trade Delegation's premises in that borough are now paid with appropriate interest.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Trefgarne)

My Lords, the collection of rates is primarily a matter between the rating authority and the occupier. But the Government have held discussions with Camden Council and the Soviet authorities over the years in an attempt to assist in resolving this long-standing problem. Our efforts will continue.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that somewhat cryptic reply, may I ask him whether or not, in the view of the Foreign Office, the premises of this mission are covered by diplomatic privilege? If they are not, is there anything to prevent Camden Council treating this defaulting ratepayer as they would treat any other defaulting ratepayer and so levying a distraint warrant? And if they did so in respect of the filing cabinets, might they not indeed find something of considerable interest?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, the first part of my noble friend's supplementary question, as to whether or not these premises enjoy immunity from the payment of rates, of course lies at the heart of this problem. In fact, Camden Council have asked for a certificate from the Foreign Office in connection with that point and we are now carefully considering how to respond.

Lord Shinwell

My Lords, may I ask the Minister whether it is possible that the Soviet Union is not paying the interest which is due to other countries on borrowed money because the Communist philosophy is opposed to rates, profit and interest?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, what lies at the heart of the Soviet view of this matter is not something on which I could expand.

Lord Brockway

My Lords, although I welcome the Question and the fact that the Government are now replying to the Camden Council regarding a certificate, could the noble Lord say whether our trade delegations in Moscow pay rates?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, we do not have anything in Moscow analogous to the Soviet trade delegations here in the United Kingdom. However, generally speaking, it is true to say that our trade representatives (if that is the right word) do form part of our missions overseas.

Lord Boyd-Carpenter

My Lords, as this matter has now been outstanding for 13 years, can my noble friend give some indication as to what further length of time Her Majesty's Government's deliberations on this matter will require?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, I think my noble friend has underestimated the time this matter has been under consideration, but I must say in the same breath that I am afraid I cannot predict when the Government will be able to form their view on the matter.

Lord Stewart of Fulham

My Lords, does the noble Minister recollect that some time in the 18th century somebody served a writ on the Russian ambassador to recover a debt that was due to him, and that our Parliament was so incensed over that proceeding that it hurriedly passed an Act making the serving of writs on ambassadors an offence punishable by corporal punishment?

Lord Trefgarne

Quite right too, my Lords!

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