Statement
Coronavirus restrictions imposed in March 2020, even though since lifted, have affected the compilation of debt information for National Non-Domestic Rates and parking fine debts by the responsible authorities. As a result this WMS includes details only of Congestion Charge debt owed by diplomatic missions and international organisations in the UK.
London Congestion Charge: The value of unpaid Congestion Charge debt incurred by diplomatic missions and international organisations in London since its introduction in February 2003 until 31 December 2022 as advised by Transport for London (TfL) was £145,411,143. TfL publishes details of diplomatic missions and international organisations with outstanding fines at https://content.tfl.gov.uk/cclez-online-factsheet-embassy-debt-jun23.pdf. The table below shows those diplomatic missions and international organisations with outstanding fines of £100,000 or more.
We consider that there are no legal grounds to exempt diplomatic missions and international organisations from the London Congestion Charge, which is comparable to a parking fee or toll charge they are required to pay. Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations diplomats have an obligation to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State. The British Government therefore expects all diplomatic missions to respect UK laws and regulations, which includes payment of the Congestion Charge.
COUNTRY | TOTAL OUTSTANDING |
Embassy of the United States of America | £14,643,495 |
Embassy of Japan | £10,044,758 |
Office of the High Commissioner for India | £8,547,985 |
High Commission for the Federal Republic of Nigeria | £8,383,735 |
Embassy of the People's Republic of China | £7,928,360 |
Embassy of the Russian Federation | £5,993,625 |
Embassy of the Republic of Poland | £5,266,160 |
Embassy of France | £4,835,820 |
Office of the High Commissioner for Ghana | £4,789,295 |
Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan | £4,651,235 |
Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany | £4,629,330 |
The Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan | £3,516,070 |
High Commission for Kenya | £3,254,280 |
High Commission for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan | £3,116,830 |
Embassy of the Republic of Korea | £2,625,880 |
Embassy of the Republic of Cuba | £2,465,520 |
High Commission for the United Republic of Tanzania | £2,285,390 |
Embassy of Spain | £2,178,120 |
Embassy of Algeria | £2,160,130 |
High Commission for the Republic of South Africa | £1,975,200 |
High Commission for Sierra Leone | £1,914,495 |
Embassy of Romania | £1,865,560 |
Embassy of Ukraine | £1,670,950 |
Embassy of Greece | £1,660,690 |
Embassy of the Republic of Turkey | £1,575,760 |
High Commission for the Republic of Cyprus | £1,415,430 |
Embassy of Hungary | £1,373,880 |
High Commission for the Republic of Zambia | £1,146,050 |
Embassy of the Republic of Yemen | £1,055,100 |
High Commission for Botswana | £954,120 |
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria | £919,910 |
High Commission of the Republic of Mozambique | £861,760 |
High Commission for the Republic of Malawi | £836,225 |
Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia | £822,550 |
Uganda High Commission | £811,100 |
High Commission for the Republic of Zimbabwe | £795,385 |
Embassy of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire | £784,560 |
High Commission for the Republic of Cameroon | £759,660 |
Embassy of the Republic of Belarus | £733,285 |
High Commission for the Republic of Namibia | £726,550 |
High Commission for Malta | £712,335 |
Embassy of the Slovak Republic | £691,720 |
High Commission for Mauritius | £669,735 |
Embassy of Belgium | £666,420 |
High Commission for the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka | £652,120 |
Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco | £651,790 |
Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania | £650,505 |
Embassy of the Republic of Liberia | £627,150 |
Embassy of Austria | £626,020 |
Kingdom of Eswatini High Commission | £620,540 |
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan | £605,040 |
Embassy of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea | £557,690 |
High Commission for the Kingdom of Lesotho | £530,360 |
Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam | £518,280 |
Embassy of the Republic of Guinea | £501,170 |
Embassy of the Czech Republic | £480,190 |
Embassy of the Republic of Iraq | £473,580 |
High Commission for Jamaica | £473,020 |
Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo | £427,680 |
Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan | £417,990 |
Royal Danish Embassy | £403,835 |
Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia | £384,290 |
Embassy of the Republic of Latvia | £346,190 |
High Commission for Antigua & Barbuda | £345,795 |
Embassy of Portugal | £325,240 |
Embassy of Luxembourg | £320,195 |
Embassy of Tunisia | £294,820 |
High Commission for Belize | £280,050 |
Embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea | £275,960 |
Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt | £243,820 |
Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan | £243,590 |
Embassy of Estonia | £218,420 |
Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia | £211,290 |
High Commission of the Republic of Maldives | £201,250 |
High Commission for Guyana | £186,490 |
Embassy of the State of Eritrea | £185,350 |
High Commission of the Republic of Seychelles | £169,935 |
Embassy of the Dominican Republic | £164,650 |
Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines | £156,840 |
Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania | £140,930 |
Embassy of El Salvador | £129,805 |
High Commission for Saint Lucia | £127,460 |
Embassy of the Republic of Albania | £124,480 |
Embassy of the Kyrgyz Republic | £120,680 |
Embassy of the Republic of Moldova | £114,310 |
Figures for previous years are available in the then Secretary for State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs’ written statement to the House on 25 February 2020 (HCWS120) which can be found at: https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2020-02-25/HCWS120
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