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Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Monday, 23 January 2006, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 25 January 2006. It was answered by Kim Howells (Labour) on Monday, 30 January 2006 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Diplomatic Missions (Congestion Charge)

Question
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries' diplomatic missions have (a) indicated to his Department that they will not pay the London congestion charge and (b) have failed to pay this charge since 1 September 2005.
Answer

The Swiss embassy and the African Union Group have informed the Foreign and Commonwealth Office that, as a matter of policy, they do not pay the congestion charge. The US embassy has also informed us that they ceased paying the charge in July 2005. No other missions have indicated to us that they have failed to pay since September 2005.Transport for London's records indicate outstanding Penalty Charge Notices incurred by individual members of diplomatic missions. These figures, up to 10 November 2005, were reported in my ministerial statement issued on 12 December 2005, Official Report, column 127WS. The following list, provided by Transport for London, updates these figures to 20 January this year.

Fines outstanding Amount in £
United Arab Emirates 5,003 469,100
Angola 4,675 441,800
Sudan 3,298 314,370
Nigeria 2,262 216,070
Tanzania 1,691 159,180
Sierra Leone 1,550 147,040
South Africa 1,492 140,440
USA 1,224 107,150
Zimbabwe 1,092 103,640
Kenya 1,088 97,110

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
46025; 442 c119-20W;442 c119-20W
Session
2005-06
Subjects
Diplomatic service Greater London Roads Tolls
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk