§ Mr. Warrenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will take steps to remove parking offences from the protection of diplomatic privilege.
§ Mr. WhitneyNo. It is not in our power to do so. Diplomatic agents are obliged under article 41 of the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations to respect the laws and regulations of the United Kingdom; but under article 31 of the convention they are immune from prosecution if they do not do so. We regularly remind diplomatic missions that we expect them to conform to parking regulations, but we cannot oblige them to pay their fixed penalties or fines if they park illegally. Some heads of mission nevertheless require their staff to pay any parking fines which they incur.