§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British diplomatists and how many members of their families already accredited to the Libyan Government have not been permitted to return to Libya from abroad.
§ Lord BalnielNone. But diplomatists of some other countries have recently been refused re-admission.
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§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice Her Majesty's Government have given to British subjects in Libya regarding the requirements of the Libyan Government that they should have Arabic in their passports, their health documents or their international driving licences, respectively.
§ Lord BalnielOur embassy at Tripoli has regularly informed British subjects in Libya of the passport and immigration requirements and practice of the Libyan Government. As far as passports are concerned, the embassy has made it clear that we regard the Libyan requirements as unacceptable. I understand that most British subjects resident in Libya already have health and driving documents in Arabic.
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requirements have been made since 1st January 1973 by the Libyan Government which affect British diplomatists and their families other than that referred to in the reply given to the hon. Member for Leicester, North-West on 18th May 1973; and what advice Her Majesty's Government have given to British subjects in Libya regarding such requirements.
§ Lord BalnielSince 1st January 1973 the Libyan Government have introduced no requirements affecting British diplomatists and their families other than the one referred to in my reply on 18th May 1973.—[Vol. 856, c.403.] But whereas until recently the requirement has not been insisted upon in the case of diplomatists already accredited to Libya, there have been instances recently of diplomatists of some countries other than the United Kingdom being refused re-admission to Libya.
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the Libyan Government have banned the import of alcoholic drinks for consumption by British diplomatists and their families in their homes or on official premises occupied by them; and when such ban was introduced and in what terms.
§ Lord BalnielAlcoholic drinks have been forbidden in Libya since 1969. But246W until 5th April 1973 diplomatic missions were exempt from the ban. On that date a circular Note to all missions made the ban universal, on the grounds that some diplomatic missions had misused their privileges by distributing alcohol to Libyan and other citizens.
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any British businessmen or residents in Libya other than diplomatists or their families have not been exempted from the requirement that all foreigners should have Arabic as one of the languages in their passports, health documents and international driving licences.
§ Lord BalnielBritish businessmen and residents in Libya, other than diplomatists and their families, have usually been exempted from these requirements. A number of British businessmen and residents have experienced difficulty when going or returning to Libya. But we are not aware of any who have in the end failed to be admitted.
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Libyan Government since 1st January 1973 in respect of their imposition of new requirements on British diplomatists, the families of British diplomatists, British diplomats or British residents in Libya, respectively.
§ Lord BalnielWe have made repeated representations to the Libyan Government about the new requirement regarding passports. In particular, Her Majesty's ambassador has taken the matter up with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Libya.