HC Deb 11 October 1976 vol 917 cc38-9W
Mr. Greville Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which missions have assisted the discussions which his officials are having with other missions including the Nigerian High Commission, with a view to reaching solutions to the parking problem; and how he has made such missions aware of his appreciation of their continuing cooperation in this matter.

Mr. Tomlinson

The discussions which my right hon. Friend's officials are having with diplomatic missions in an effort to find solutions to the parking problems have been assisted by the continuing cooperation in this field of a number of missions, which are well aware of our appreciation.

Mr. Greville Janner

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with which diplomatic missions his officials are having discussions with a view to reaching solutions to the parking problem; how long such discussions have been going on in each case; and with which missions he considers that satisfactory conclusions to such discussions have now been arrived at.

Mr. Tomlinson

My right hon. Friend's officials have for several months been pursuing intensified discussions with diplomatic missions in an effort to find mutually acceptable solutions to the parking problems. They have received encouraging assurances of stricter compliance with the parking regulations. In return it has been pointed out to them that official parking facilities in London for diplomatic missions are often inadequate and compare unfavourably with those afforded in many other capitals. Given the varying circumstances of individual missions, there is no simple global solution and it is too early to say that satisfactory conclusions have yet been reached. We are continuing to work on the problems.