Diplomatic Missions: Unpaid Charges

Lord Bellingham Excerpts

Wednesday 16th July 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

My noble friend is right, and it is the Government’s position, consistent with that of the previous Government, that these are charges, not taxes, and should be paid.

[Lord Bellingham (Con)]

I am grateful to the Minister for her reply to me and to the noble Lord a week or so ago. If you add unpaid parking fines to the £150 million owed in congestion charges, the figure goes up to nearly £300 million, which is a staggering amount; that could be put to transformational use by TfL. Is the Minister aware that when the current Labour Mayor was elected 10 years ago, he said that he would make this a key priority? Does she agree that it is time for him to help her and the Government get a grip?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

I detect some co-ordination across the House this afternoon. We consider these to be debts, and we would like them to be paid. Like TfL and the Mayor of London, we continue to use our diplomatic best efforts to bring that about.