§ Mr. Freudasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will list the number of foreign nationals currently in the United Kingdom to whom diplomatic immunity is extended; if he will give comparable numbers for 1978, 1976 and 1974; and if he will make a statement.
Sir Ian GihnourThe persons who enjoy diplomatic immunity from criminal jurisdiction are diplomatic agents, members of the administrative and technical staff of diplomatic missions, certain senior officers of the Commonwealth Secretariat and the heads of certain international organisations. The numbers are:
1980 4,938 1978 5,139 1976 4,657 1974 4,728 The families of the above also have immunity. Their numbers are not readily available but are currently estimated as 14,800.