Diplomatic Missions (Outstanding National Non-Domestic Rates Bills)

Thursday 5th July 2012 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 (NNDR) requested from them.

They are obliged to pay only 6% of the total NNDR value which represents payment for specific services such as rubbish collection, street cleaning and street lighting.

Following representations by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, historic debt of £149,799 owed by missions has been settled during the last 12 months.

As at 1 June 2012, the total amount outstanding from all diplomatic missions was £565,646. This represents a very small reduction on the previous year’s total. Missions listed below owed over £10,000 in respect of NNDR.