§ Mr. Robin F. Cookasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the policy of his Department on the hire of bodyguards from private firms such as KMS.
§ Mr. TomlinsonThe basic responsibility for the protection of diplomats rests with the receiving Government under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. In a number of countries, the protection at our missions includes armed guards who have either been provided by the host government or recruited locally. At a very few particularly exposed posts, we have thought it advisable, with the agreement of the Governments concerned, to strengthen this protection by sending out British guards obtained from a private firm.