§ Mr. BurdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many serious offences were committed in 1997 by persons entitled to immunity. [48597]
§ Mr. Tony LloydFrom a diplomatic community of over 17,000 persons, seventeen alleged serious offences by persons entitled to immunity were drawn to the attention of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1997. "Serious offences" are defined in accordance with the Report to the Foreign Affairs Committee "The Abuse of Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges (1985)" as offences which fall into the category which in certain 161W circumstances attract a maximum penalty of 6 months imprisonment or more: the majority involved drinking and driving and shoplifting.
In relation to this question, I refer my hon. Friend to the answer my noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State gave to the noble Lord, Lord Marlesford on 1 June 1998, Official Report, House of Lords, column 16, that one diplomat was withdrawn at the Department's request from his post in the United Kingdom as a result of alleged offences, compared with six the previous year.