Diplomatic Missions (Outstanding National Non-Domestic Rates Bills)

Monday 28th June 2010 Written Statements

[The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (Mr William Hague)]

The majority of diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom pay the national non-domestic rates requested from them. They are obliged to pay only 6% of the total national non-domestic rates value which represents payment for specific services such as street cleaning, lighting, maintenance and fire services. The total amount outstanding from all diplomatic missions is approximately £574,998. As at 1 April 2010, missions listed below owed over £10,000 in respect of NNDR.

Since a letter about outstanding NNDR bills was sent to missions on 22 February 2010, £26,471.68 has been repaid. Many missions have cleared their bills and some others have entered into arrangements to pay by instalment. Overall, the repayment rate is 96%.