To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the number of unpaid parking fines incurred by each diplomatic mission in London during 1987; and if he will make a statement.

The information requested by my hon. Friend is given in the table. The table also includes those international organisations which have incurred unpaid fines. The figures may be reduced by late payment.The total for 1987 (14,437) indicates a 35 per cent. reduction over the total 1986 figure (22,331) and is only 13 per cent. of the 1984 figure (108,845)—the last to be published before the introduction of our policy on parking by members of diplomatic missions in May 1985.We welcome the further reduction in unpaid parking fines that has been achieved during 1987 and appreciate the co-operation of diplomatic missions since the introduction of the parking policy. We shall, however, continue to monitor carefully the level of unpaid fines, and bring pressure to bear on diplomatic missions to reduce this further.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many serious offences were allegedly committed in 1987 by persons entitled to diplomatic immunity; and how many foreign diplomats were withdrawn from their posts in Britain in that year as a result of alleged offences.

Forty-three alleged serious offences by persons entitled to immunity were drawn to the attention of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1987. "Serious offences" are defined in accordance with the report of the Foreign Affairs Committee "The Abuse of Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges" (1985) as offences falling into a category which could in certain circumstances attract a penalty of six months or more; I am advised that very few of the alleged offences would have been likely to attract a custodial sentence. The majority involve drinking and driving and shoplifting. Eighteen diplomats were withdrawn from their posts in Britain in 1987 following alleged offences.