§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions in the past 10 years members of the diplomatic administrative or technical staff of foreign missions, or members of their families, have escaped arrest or prosecution for serious offences as a result of their status.
§ Mr. EggarThe figures for 1974 to 1983 were given on page 16 of the Foreign Affairs Committee report "The Abuse of Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges" of December 1984.
The figures for subsequent years to date are as follows:
Number 1984 48 1985 53 1986 38 1987 6 In accordance with the report, "serious" is defined as falling into a category which could in certain circumstances attract a penalty of six months imprisonment or more; in fact, we are advised that very few of the alleged offences would have been likely to attract a custodial sentence. There has been a significant fall in the number of alleged serious offences since the notification to the 138W Diplomatic Corps of the stricter standards set out in the White Paper on diplomatic immunities and privileges (Cmnd. 9497).
§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many foreign diplomats have been withdrawn from their posts in Britain following allegations of serious crime against them in the last 10 years.
§ Mr. EggarThe figures for withdrawals of diplomats, administrative and technical staff members and dependants where applicable from 1982 onwards to date are:
Number 1982 14 1983 17 1984 13 1985 25 1986 17 1987 3 Figures for withdrawals for the years 1976–81 could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions in the last 10 years when an allegation has been made that a diplomat has committed a serious offence has that diplomat not been required to leave Great Britain.
§ Mr. EggarI regret that the information in the form requested by my hon. Friend is not readily available, and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
Mr. Peter Bruinvels asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions in the last 10 years foreign Governments have refused to waive the immunity of diplomats alleged to have committed sexual offences; and if he will break down this figure by year, by country of origin of the diplomat, and by nature of the offence.
§ Mr. EggarStatistics for 1974 to 1983 relating to alleged sexual offences by persons with immunity were given on page 16 of the Foreign Affairs Committee report "The Abuse of Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges." The figures for subsequent years to date are as follows:
Number 1984 3 (two indecent assault, one gross indecency) 1985 2 (both gross indecency) 1986 none 1987 none It has not been the practice to name individual missions whose staff are reported to have committed offences.
One waiver was requested and refused in 1984 and also in 1985. The other alleged offenders in 1982 to 1985 were transferred without a waiver being requested. We have no centralised records of waivers requested before 1982 and figures could be provided only at disproportionate cost.