HL Deb 05 July 1984 vol 454 c406

3.28 p.m.

Lord Sandys

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will review planning control of foreign embassies, consulates and their associated buildings with regard to their use and immunity.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Young)

My Lords, diplomatic missions are well aware that their immunity does not in any way absolve them from the responsibility to comply with planning and listed building consent regulations and building by-laws. The Vice-Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps reminded heads of missions of this in a circular letter last year. There is therefore no need for a review.

Lord Sandys

My Lords, while thanking my noble friend for that very helpful Answer, I would like to ask if she would confirm that this would be a suitable opportunity to communicate with her right honourable friend the Secretary of State for the Environment in regard to serving a dangerous structures notice on the Iranian Embassy.

Baroness Young

My Lords, we are presently negotiating with the Iranians with a view to a settlement by which 16 Prince's Gate would be completely reconstructed and the Iranians would meet our claim for damage to British Government properties in Iran.

Lord Broxbourne

My Lords, would my noble friend confirm that the question of embassies and associated buildings in the context of planning controls is not dealt with sub nominee in the principal Act, the Town and Country Planning Act of 1971? Would she further confirm that Sections 10 and 11 of that Act which extend a Crown exemption to visiting forces and international headquarters again do not specify embassies and associated buildings which are the subject of the Question so appropriately and cogently put by my noble friend?

Baroness Young

My Lords, I shall write to the noble Lord on the particular point he raises about the sections of the Act, on which I do not at present have the information. The Answer I have given in my original reply indicates that diplomatic missions are subject to planning laws and building regulations, and indeed if there were to be a breach of planning permission by diplomatic missions we would protest to the head of the mission, had there been a breach in the law, and we would insist that the breach was rectified.

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