§ Lord Balfour of Inchryeasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will give an assurance that, in spite of diplomatic protests, the "clamping" of illegally parked embassy cars will continue even if exemptions from financial penalties have to be given.
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Home Office (Lord Elton)Operational control of the experimental wheel-clamping scheme in force in parts of central London is the responsibility of the Metropolitan Police. I understand that the Commissioner has obtained legal advice which suggests that wheel-clamping contravenes the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations; and wheel-clamping of identifiable diplomatic vehicles has accordingly been discontinued. We are however, examining the situation further.