HC Deb 15 February 1991 vol 185 c610W
Mr. Lawrence

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is the practice when diplomatic relations have been terminated with a foreign country for Her Majesty's Government to accept the nomination of any other foreign country with a recognised mission in the United Kingdom as protector of the interests of the first country; and what freedom to decline to accept such arrangements is available to Her Majesty's Government.

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

In accordance with articles 45 and 46 of the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations, when diplomatic relations have been broken off with a foreign country, Her Majesty's Government as the receiving state, will consider the nomination by the sending state, of a third state to assume the role of a protecting power. It is for Her Majesty's Government alone to decide whether or not the nomination is acceptable.