asked Her Majesty's Government:How many outstanding parking and other minor traffic violation fines were incurred by diplomatic missions and international organisations in London during 1998. [HL2849]

At the end of 1998 there were 4,259 unpaid fines in respect of parking and other minor traffic violations incurred by members of diplomatic missions and international organisations in London. In April this year the Foreign and Commonwealth Office wrote to all diplomatic missions and international organisations in London offering them an opportunity either to pay their outstanding fines or to appeal against them if they considered that they had been incorrectly issued. As a result payments totalling £66,200.00 were received and a number of fines were cancelled, leaving a total of 2,667 unpaid fines for 1998. The attached table details diplomatic missions and international organisations which have more than 10 fines outstanding.