§ 67. Mr. Frank Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many foreign nationals in this country have the benefit of diplomatic privilege; which countries they represent; and how many British nationals have reciprocal diplomatic privileges in each of these countries.
§ Mr. WhiteMembers of Foreign Diplomatic Missions in London granted varying degrees of diplomatic privileges and immunities in accordance with the provisions of the Diplomatic Privileges Act, 1964 giving effect to the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, total 2,557. The wives of these officials and families forming part of their household in general enjoy similar privileges and immunities.
The corresponding numbers of British nationals in receipt of diplomatic privileges and immunities at posts abroad total 2,397 (exclusive of wives and families).
In countries who are parties to the Vienna Convention these privileges are similarly based on the provisions of the Convention. In countries who are not yet party to the Convention these privileges rest on pre-Convention customary international practice.
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Foreign Missions in London British Missions abroad Afghanistan 4 18 Algeria — 17 British Interests Section of Swiss Embassy Argentine 20 31 Austria 23 43 Belgium 41 32 Bolivia 4 9 Brazil 42 29 Bulgaria 24 22 Burma 32 29 Burundi 2 3 Cambodia 7 7 Cameroon 11 7 Chile 16 13 China 85 43 Colombia 9 6 Congo (Kinshasa) 18 33 Costa Rica 2 3 Cuba 7 13 Czechoslovakia 64 36 Dahomey 6 — Denmark 49 29 Dominican Republic 8 4 19W
Foreign Missions in London British Missions abroad Ecuador 4 6 El Salvador 4 4 Ethiopia 5 21 Finland 23 31 France 175 117 Gabon 9 — Germany 130 220 Greece 23 38 Haiti 3 — Honduras 3 2 Hungary 35 34 Iceland 4 5 Indonesia 38 33 Iran 38 52 Iraq, including U.A.R. Interests Section 96 45 Israel 75 39 Italy 84 63 Ivory Coast 11 7 Japan 47 52 Jordan 22 28 Korea 9 10 Kuwait, including Algerian Interests Section 17 19 Laos 3 26 Lebanon 3 44 Liberia 8 3 Libya 19 26 Luxembourg 2 4 Malagasy Republic 10 2 Mexico 11 16 Mongolia 5 4 Morocco 18 16 Nepal 6 10 Netherlands 100 28 Nicaragua 4 5 Niger 1 — Norway 46 20 Panama 7 4 Paraguay 4 3 Peru 10 15 Philippines 20 22 Poland 51 58 Portugal 25 32 Rumania 42 21 Rwanda 2 — Saudi Arabia 20 26 Senegal 7 11 South Africa 61 61 Soviet Union 125 94 Spain 64 41 Sudan 18 20 Sweden 31 34 Switzerland 54 27 Syria 17 17 Thailand 34 48 Togo 4 3 Tunisia 9 10 Turkey 30 76 U.A.R — 48 British Interests Section Canadian Embassy U.S.A 281 150 Uruguay 7 8 Venezuela 21 28 Vietnam 15 38 Yemen 2 — Yugoslavia 31 45 2,557 2,397
§ 68. Mr. Frank Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent the degree of diplomatic privilege granted to British nationals abroad is restricted as compared with that granted to foreign nationals in this country.
§ Mrs. WhiteThe grant of diplomatic privileges and immunities in the United Kingdom is governed by the provisions of the Diplomatc Privilege Act, 1964, which gives effect to the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The Vienna Convention is now the generally accepted international standard on which the grant of diplomatic privileges and immunities is based and we have no evidence that other countries who are parties to it do not honour their obligations under the Convention.
When in countries not yet party to the Convention restrictions apply to the detriment of United Kingdom staff serving in these countries, we have taken powers under the Diplomatic Immunities Restriction Act, 1955, as preserved by Section 8(5) of the Diplomatic Privileges Act to apply similar restrictions to the staffs of the Embassies concerned in London.
The Soviet Union and China impose travel limitations on United Kingdom nationals serving on our Missions in Moscow and Peking. While these restrictions remain in force similar conditions are imposed on members of the Soviet and Chinese Missions in London.