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Diplomatic Missions/International Organisations (Unpaid Parking/Minor Traffic Violation Fines)

Volume 461: debated on Wednesday 20 June 2007

There were 5,484 outstanding parking and other minor traffic violation fines incurred by diplomatic missions and international organisations in the United Kingdom recorded during the year 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2006. These totalled £506,475. In April this year the Foreign and Commonwealth Office wrote to all diplomatic missions and international organisations concerned giving them the opportunity either to pay their outstanding fines or appeal against them if they considered that the fines had been issued incorrectly. As a result of subsequent payments totalling £22,713 and formal appeals lodged, there remains a total of 4,859 (£448,965) unpaid fines for 20061. The table below details those diplomatic missions and International Organisations that have outstanding fines totalling £1,000 or more.

Unpaid Parking and Minor Traffic Violation Fines -2006 -Diplomatic Vehicles-Owing £1,000 or More

Diplomatic Mission/International Organisation

No of Fines Outstanding

Amount in £

Saudi Arabia

319

29,620.00

China

272

25,630.00

Sudan

244

23,550.00

Egypt

210

20,065.00

Turkey

194

18,420.00

France

186

17,910.00

Russia

167

15,650.00

Afghanistan

133

12,840.00

Guinea

117

11,280.00

Kuwait

100

9,600.00

Germany

101

9,600.00

Zambia

92

8,860.00

Hungary

91

8,650.00

Pakistan

92

8,480.00

North Korea

90

8,370.00

Brunei

85

7,500.00

Libya

79

7,440.00

Qatar

74

7,205.00

Ghana

74

7,030.00

Kazakhstan

70

6,850.00

Greece

68

6,600.00

Bangladesh

64

6,465.00

Iran

69

6,380.00

Georgia

64

5,850.00

Sierra Leone

103

5,650.00

Cyprus

61

5,650.00

Jordan

59

5,550.00

USA

60

5,210.00

Angola

61

5,150.00

Mozambique

55

4,970.00

Malaysia

50

4,920.00

Ivory Coast

52

4,720.00

Oman

51

4,650.00

Lithuania

45

4,430.00

Tunisia

46

4,340.00

Uzbekistan

44

4,150.00

Algeria

45

4,000.00

Honduras

41

3,900.00

United Arab Emirates

46

3,425.00

Senegal

33

3,200.00

Jamaica

32

3,060.00

Mongolia

30

2,950.00

Kyrgystan

28

2,780.00

Thailand

28

2,680.00

Yemen

28

2,500.00

Kenya

29

2,480.00

Poland

32

2,480.00

Italy

28

2,250.00

Romania

26

2,440.00

Iraq

25

2,400.00

Tanzania

25

2,140.00

Ukraine

22

2,000.00

Ethiopia

24

1,950.00

Belgium

20

1,950.00

Bulgaria

20

1,900.00

Nigeria

24

1,800.00

Syria

18

1,800.00

Latvia

17

1,585.00

South Africa

17

1,550.00

Mexico

13

1,405.00

Vietnam

16

1,400.00

El Salvador

14

1,380.00

Morocco

17

1,360.00

Malta

13

1,300.00

Azerbaijan

14

1,200.00

Malawi

14

1,200.00

Botswana

13

1,060.00

Swaziland

13

1,050.00

Gabon

10

1,000.00

Total

4,517

418,810.00

1This figure includes 46 fines (£4,530) that are in dispute by missions who claim not to have received the original penalty notices. These could not be resolved before issue of the statement.

The number of outstanding fines incurred by diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom for non-payment of the London congestion charge since its introduction in February 2003 until 3 April 2007 was 74,198. The table below shows the 10 diplomatic missions with the highest value of outstanding fines.

Mission

Number of Outstanding Fines

Value £

1. USA

15150

1,484,765

2. Nigeria

6949

682,370

3. Sudan

5633

545,990

4. Japan

4119

386,150

5. Tanzania

3119

298,940

6. Kenya

3099

292,830

7. South Africa

2773

267,290

8. Sierra Leone

2619

252,310

9. Germany

2515

223,950

10. Zimbabwe

1641

157,430