§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied that weapons are not being secretly brought into the United Kingdom in diplomatic bags; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WhitneyI have been asked to reply.
324WWe cannot be certain of this, since we are precluded by article 27 of the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations, from opening or detaining diplomatic bags; but we regularly remind diplomatic missions of the need for strict compliance with our laws concerning firearms. If evidence were to come to light that these laws had been flouted by a person enjoying diplomatic immunity, we should not hesitate to take firm action.