asked Her Majesty's Government:

What further representations they have made to foreign embassies and missions in London over the non-payment of the congestion charge; and whether they will publish such correspondence.[HL2613]

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office continues to take every opportunity to remind diplomatic missions of the need to meet their obligations to comply with UK law. We wrote to the worst debtors in March and August 2006, urging them to pay. In August we also wrote to all missions that owed more than £1,000 in fines, urging them to settle their debts with Transport for London. This is standard practice in preparation for the annual Written Ministerial Statement I made on unpaid parking and minor traffic violation fines on 28 November 2006 (Official Report, cols. WS 74-76). The next Statement will issue by the end of June 2007.

We are placing copies of the text of the letters mentioned above in the Library of the House.