HL Deb 14 July 1988 vol 499 cc991-3

7.20 p.m.

The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Glenarthur) rose to move, That the draft order laid before the House on 28th June be approved—[31st Report from the Joint Committee].

The noble Lord said: My Lords, I shall speak also to the EUTELSAT (Immunities and Privileges) Order.

Perhaps I may first say a few words about the activities of these two organisations. The European Telecommunications Satellite Organisation (EUTELSAT) was created in May 1977. Its functions include the design, development, construction, establishment. operation and maintenance of the space segment of the European telecommunications satellite systems.

EUTELSAT's primary role is to provide the satellites required for international public telecommunications services in Europe. The primary purpose of the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) is to establish, maintain and utilise European systems of operational meteorological satellites. In doing so it takes into account as far as possible the recommendations of the World Meteorological Organisation, a specialist agency of the United Nations.

The conventions provide that each organisation is to have privileges and immunities necessary for the performance of its functions. The UK is a party to both the EUTELSAT Convention and the EUMETSAT Convention. It has signed but not ratified the two protocols on privileges and immunities. The United Kingdom is a leading participant in both those organisations and a net beneficiary of their success.

It is important to ratify the protocols since, in the case of EUTELSAT, members of the organisation have already arrived in the United Kingdom on attachments to companies. The draft orders will, when made, enable Her Majesty's Government to give effect to the protocols and therefore to ratify them. The draft orders follow precedents for similar orders made in respect of other international organisations.

We are satisfied that the privileges and immunities accorded under those protocols are necessary for the effective functioning of the two organisations. They provide for officials of those organisations to have (depending on their status and functions), first, immunity from legal action in respect of acts done by them in the course of their duties; secondly, inviolability of official documents and papers; and, thirdly, immunity from United Kingdom taxation and Customs duties.

Ratification would further facilitate the letting of contracts by the two organisations in the United Kingdom. They provide a source of demand for European (particularly United Kingdom) satellite manufacturers. The three EUTELSAT satellites were built by the European Space Agency. In each case British Aerospace was the prime contractor, with Marconi also playing a leading role. I commend the order to your Lordships, and beg to move.

Moved, that the draft order laid before the House on 28th June be approved [31st Report. from the Joint Committee.]—(Lord Glenarthur.)

Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos

My Lords, we are grateful to the Minister for explaining both the orders. We give them general support As he explained, EUTELSAT performs functions of great importance in the telecommunications field. I note that 26 countries are currently members of EUTELSAT. In this country, British Telecom International and Mercury operate to provide services for customers; that is, television and radio programmers.

Will the Minister give some indication of how British Telecom co-operates with EUTELSAT and how much it costs the British taxpayer? I have been told that our percentage contribution could be said to be disproportionately high. Now that British Telecom is a private company, I presume that it will pay all the costs and that the British taxpayer will be relieved of any cost in relation to EUTELSAT. That is something which should be explained to the House. In short, it would be of interest to know what part we play in the overall administration of EUTELSAT and what the financial implications are. The order deals in detail with the organisation, and so on. It would be useful to know what sort of representation the United Kingdom has within the organisation.

Secondly, I know that 17 countries are members of EUMETSAT. That again performs important work on the meteorological side. The same questions are relevant here; namely, what part we play in the administration and how much it costs us. The order goes into detail about the organisation. Perhaps the Minister can clarify that from the British point of view.

Finally, we should always look at privileges and immunities with great care. Noble Lords have shown their interest in the continuing increase in the numbers who can claim those privileges in this country and how they are frequently and unhappily misused. Will the Minister tell us how many additional personnel are likely to be able to claim the privileges and immunities which he described in his introductory speech? Subject to those points, we support the orders.

Lord Glenarthur

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord. He asked me a number of questions about the organisation of EUMETSAT and EUTELSAT. I shall start by dealing with privileges, which are especially relevant to the orders, and the numbers of those who may benefit from them. As neither EUMETSAT or EUTELSAT plans to open an office in the United Kingdom, there will be no permanently resident beneficiaries. However, a few officials are to be seconded to British companies. It is not possible to be specific, but the numbers involved are expected to be small. Their entitlement will be limited to first-arrival privileges and official-act immunity only.

With regard to those people who may be here at present, one couple from EUTELSAT is on secondment to Marconi. It is not known how long they will be here, but probably about a year.

Reverting to the operations and headquarters element of EUTELSAT, perhaps I may explain that it has three satellites in orbit. In the United Kingdom, British Telecom and Mercury provide the uplinks and downlinks for customers. The customers are largely television and radio programmers. In addition, the EUTELSAT space segment can also be used for domestic public telecommunications services in Europe. The headquarters of the organisation are in Paris.

I understand that the cost to the British taxpayer was approximately £2 million last year and that annual payments of that order will continue until about 1991. The contributions were agreed with British Telecom when the organisations were set up. Two meteorological office staff represent the United Kingdom on the EUMETSAT council, and the current cost to Her Majesty's Government is about £8 million a year. The headquarters of EUMETSAT are at Darmstadt in Germany.

I believe that I have answered the points the noble Lord raised. If he has no further points, I commend the order to the House.

On Question, Motion agreed to.