§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Attorney-General whether he will provide statistics for the number of United States personnel stationed in the United Kingdom who were granted immunity from prosecution under British law according to the Visiting Forces Act for each year since 1980; and whether he will provide an analysis of these figures according to the type of offence and the service to which the offender belongs.
§ Mr. MellorI have been asked to reply.
The Visiting Forces Act 1952 does not grant any general immunity from British legal process. In certain cases the authorities of a visiting force, including those of the United States, are permitted to exercise the primary jurisdiction but information about such cases is not held centrally and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.