HC Deb 03 May 1984 vol 59 c206W
Mr. Warren

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, further to the reply to the hon. Member for Hastings and Rye of 18 July. 1983, concerning the attaching of wheel clamps to vehicles owned by diplomats which are parked illegally, what progress has been achieved in examining if this can be carried out within the provisions of the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations.

Mr. Hurd

As my noble Friend the Lord Elton stated in reply to a question on 12 December 1983, we have now completed a detailed review of the wheel clamping of diplomatic vehicles. This review has confirmed that wheel clamping of diplomatic vehicles would be in breach of the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations, and that it is therefore not legally possible to apply wheel clamps to such vehicles. Instead, we propose to tackle the wider problem arising from the numbers of diplomatic vehicles in London. The Government are introducing the following new arrangements to reduce their numbers.

The first new measure arises from the distinction which exists between different types of diplomatic immunity. Representatives of certain international organisations, such as the United Nations and NATO and certain consular staff, are not entitled to full immunity, but only to immunity in connection with acts arising from their official duties. These representatives are at present issued with category "X" registration plates, which are also issued to certain staff entitled to full immunity. In future, "X" category registration plates will be reserved for vehicles whose users are only entitled to immunity arising from their official acts. I am advised that as soon as the necessary re-plating has been carried out, "X" category vehicles, of which there will then be some 400, will be eligible for wheel clamping.

Secondly, we are placing a firm limit on the number of vehicles for which "D" registration plates will be issued. These are plates issued for vehicles used by persons entitled to full diplomatic immunity. In future, issue of "D" plates for official vehicles will be limited to a maximum of one set per notified diplomat per mission.

Thirdly, issue of "D" plates for private vehicles will be limited to a maximum of two sets per diplomatic household.

These measures should result in significant reduction in the number of vehicles exempt from wheel clamping.