Coronavirus restrictions imposed in March 2020, even though since lifted, have affected the compilation of debt information for national non-domestic rates and parking fine debts by the responsible authorities. As a result this WMS includes details only of congestion charge debt owed by diplomatic missions and international organisations in the UK.
London Congestion Charge: The value of unpaid congestion charge debt incurred by diplomatic missions and international organisations in London since its introduction in February 2003 until 31 December 2022 as advised by Transport for London (TfL) was £145,411,143. TfL publishes details of diplomatic missions and international organisations with outstanding fines at https://content.tfl.gov.uk/cclez-online-factsheet-embassy-debt-dec22.pdf The table below shows those diplomatic missions and international organisations with outstanding fines of £100,000 or more.
We consider that there are no legal grounds to exempt diplomatic missions and international organisations from the London congestion charge, which is comparable to a parking fee or toll charge they are required to pay. Under the Vienna convention on diplomatic relations diplomats have an obligation to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving state. The British Government therefore expect all diplomatic missions to respect UK laws and regulations, which includes payment of the congestion charge.
Country Total outstanding Embassy of the United States of America £14,643,495 Embassy of Japan £10,044,758 Office of the High Commissioner for India £8,547,985 High Commission for the Federal Republic of Nigeria £8,383,735 Embassy of the People's Republic of China £7,928,360 Embassy of the Russian Federation £5,993,625 Embassy of the Republic of Poland £5,266,160 Embassy of France £4,835,820 Office of the High Commissioner for Ghana £4,789,295 Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan £4,651,235 Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany £4,629,330 The Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan £3,516,070 High Commission for Kenya £3,254,280 High Commission for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan £3,116,830 Embassy of the Republic of Korea £2,625,880 Embassy of the Republic of Cuba £2,465,520 High Commission for the United Republic of Tanzania £2,285,390 Embassy of Spain £2,178,120 Embassy of Algeria £2,160,130 High Commission for the Republic of South Africa £1,975,200 High Commission for Sierra Leone £1,914,495 Embassy of Romania £1,865,560 Embassy of Ukraine £1,670,950 Embassy of Greece £1,660,690 Embassy of the Republic of Turkey £1,575,760 High Commission for the Republic of Cyprus £1,415,430 Embassy of Hungary £1,373,880 High Commission for the Republic of Zambia £1,146,050 Embassy of the Republic of Yemen £1,055,100 High Commission for Botswana £954,120 Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria £919,910 High Commission of the Republic of Mozambique £861,760 High Commission for the Republic of Malawi £836,225 Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia £822,550 Uganda High Commission £811,100 High Commission for the Republic of Zimbabwe £795,385 Embassy of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire £784,560 High Commission for the Republic of Cameroon £759,660 Embassy of the Republic of Belarus £733,285 High Commission for the Republic of Namibia £726,550 High Commission for Malta £712,335 Embassy of the Slovak Republic £691,720 High Commission for Mauritius £669,735 Embassy of Belgium £666,420 High Commission for the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka £652,120 Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco £651,790 Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania £650,505 Embassy of the Republic of Liberia £627,150 Embassy of Austria £626,020 Kingdom of Eswatini High Commission £620,540 Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan £605,040 Embassy of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea £557,690 High Commission for the Kingdom of Lesotho £530,360 Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam £518,280 Embassy of the Republic of Guinea £501,170 Embassy of the Czech Republic £480,190 Embassy of the Republic of Iraq £473,580 High Commission for Jamaica £473,020 Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo £427,680 Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan £417,990 Royal Danish Embassy £403,835 Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia £384,290 Embassy of the Republic of Latvia £346,190 High Commission for Antigua & Barbuda £345,795 Embassy of Portugal £325,240 Embassy of Luxembourg £320,195 Embassy of Tunisia £294,820 High Commission for Belize £280,050 Embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea £275,960 Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt £243,820 Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan £243,590 Embassy of Estonia £218,420 Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia £211,290 High Commission of the Republic of Maldives £201,250 High Commission for Guyana £186,490 Embassy of the State of Eritrea £185,350 High Commission of the Republic of Seychelles £169,935 Embassy of the Dominican Republic £164,650 Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines £156,840 Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania £140,930 Embassy of El Salvador £129,805 High Commission for Saint Lucia £127,460 Embassy of the Republic of Albania £124,480 Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic £120,680 Embassy of the Republic of Moldova £114,310
Figures for previous years are available in the then Secretary for State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs’ written statement to the House on 25 February 2020 (HCWS120) which can be found at: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2020-02-25/HCWS120
[HCWS120]