Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs written question – answered at on 28 April 2014.
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
(1) what the country of origin was of each special mission to the UK that has been refused since 4 March 2013; and what were the grounds for each refusal;
(2) whether he would refuse to consent to a special mission on (a) human rights grounds and (b) where the person in question has been the subject of a UK judicial arrest warrant, European Arrest Warrant or similar judicial process;
(3) what the country of origin was of each special mission to the UK since 4 March 2013; and whether any person travelling on a special mission to the UK has been the subject of (a) an arrest warrant or (b) a criminal investigation conducted by SO15 since 4 March 2013;
(4) pursuant to the written statement of 4 March 2013, Official Report, columns 55-6WS, on special mission immunity, how many special missions have been (a) consented to and (b) refused under the pilot process; and if he will make a statement.
I refer to the statement made by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend
The former Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend Alistair Burt, confirmed to the House on
All applications for special mission status are considered carefully in view of both obligations incumbent upon the UK under customary international law and our policy of ending impunity for the most serious of international crimes and a commitment to the protection of human rights. Above this, it is for the courts to decide on the legal consequences of any decision to grant special mission status.
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