§ 67. Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the Government's policy in respect of the refusal of States to accept British diplomatic staff by reason only of their religious antecedents; and whether he will make a statement in relation to the current position vis-à-vis Saudi Arabia.
§ Mr. MulleyThe Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations to which Her Majesty's Government are signatories provides that a receiving Government may at any time and without having to explain its decision notify the sending State that the Head of the Mission or180W any member of the diplomatic staff of the Mission is not acceptable. A person may be declared not acceptable before arriving in the territory of the receiving State. As regards Saudi Arabia, I have nothing to add to my hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Members for Glasgow, Kelvingrove (Dr, Miller) and Leicester, North-West (Sir B. Janner) on 23rd April.—[Vol. 763, cc. 7–8.]