§ Lord Boyd-CarpenterMy 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 remind local authorities in London that the provision of parking spaces where use is restricted to diplomatic cars only should be limited to spaces adjoining premises actually at the time occupied by diplomatic missions.
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Young)My Lords, the provision of specially marked parking spaces for diplomatic missions, and their removal when they are no longer required, is a matter for the local authorities. They are well aware of the position.
§ Lord Boyd-CarpenterMy Lords, I thank my noble friend for that Answer. Can she indicate whether her department has recently given local authorities any particular advice, or whether the apparent policy of the City of Westminster to duplicate the allocation of these spaces where one has sufficed before is based on its own initiative?
§ Baroness YoungMy Lords, the position is that the formula which has been agreed between the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and local authorities, subject to local traffic conditions, is that for each mission up to three parking spaces outside its office buildings, plus one for the head of mission's residence, is allowed.
§ Lord Cledwyn of PenrhosMy Lords, can the noble Baroness say whether the objectives of the White Paper, which was published last April, are being achieved? She and the House will recall that the number of parking offences committed by diplomats had increased to 4.3 per cent. of the total, from about 2.8 per cent. two years previously. Can she say whether these figures have come down as a result of the efforts made by her department?
§ Baroness YoungMy Lords, we believe that the White Paper, which has of course been drawn to the attention of all diplomatic missions in London, has been helpful in the present situation. I shall have to write to the noble Lord on the specific point that he raised about the number of car-parking offences committed since its publication.