Diplomatic Immunity
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department has granted any Special Mission Immunity certificates to any (a) visitor or (b) prospective visitor since 1 January 2024.
Answered by Catherine West
Government officials from any country can apply for and be granted special mission certificates as part of official visits to the UK. As set out in a Written Ministerial Statement by the former Foreign Secretary dated 4 March 2013, a special mission is a temporary mission, representing a State, which is sent by one State to another with the consent of the latter, in order to carry out official engagements on behalf of the sending State. Since 1 January 2024, the FCDO has given consent and issued certificates to two special mission status visits to the UK for the following officials and their delegations:
· Mr Benny Gantz, Minister of the State of Israel on 6 March, visiting the then Foreign Secretary.
· Lieutenant General Herzl Halevi, Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces.
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