§ Mr. H. Hyndasked the Lord Privy Seal how many people now enjoy diplomatic privileges and immunities in this country; and how many organisations, apart from embassies, they represent.
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§ Mr. P. ThomasAs heads and members of 83 foreign Diplomatic Missions, a total of 3,439 persons, including 1,025 wives, are at present officially regarded as entitled to full diplomatic immunity.
In addition, 2,581 persons, including 770 wives, enjoy like immunity as heads and members of 16 Commonwealth Missions. A further 464 persons enjoy immunity restricted to their official acts.
Immunity from suit and legal process and fiscal privilege similar to that accorded to heads of foreign Diplomatic Missions is accorded to three persons in international organisations and to their respective wives: namely, the Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General of Western European Union and the Chief representative of the Coal and Steed Community.
Immunity from suit and legal process in respect of things done or omitted to be done in the course of the performance of official duties is at present enjoyed in the United Kingdom by 306 persons. These and a further 15 enjoy also the privilege of exemption from tax on official salary. Of this figure, 118 persons are national representatives to agencies of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. The total number of International Organisations concerned is now eleven.