Written Question · S5W-08848 · Session 5
Which organisations that operate in Scotland have employees who receive immunity from (a) criminal and (b) civil law.
The question
To ask the Scottish Government which organisations that operate in Scotland have employees who receive immunity from (a) criminal and (b) civil law.
The answer
A number of international organisations whose officers enjoy immunities and privileges under Scots law are listed in the International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Scotland) Order 2009, as amended and as to be further amended by the draft International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2017 when it is made by Her Majesty in Council. These organisations are:
Schedule 1 International Mobile Satellite Organisation
Schedule 2 International Telecommunications Satellite Organisation
Schedule 3 Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation
Schedule 4 International Seabed Authority
Schedule 5 European Court of Human Rights
Schedule 6 UNESCO
Schedule 7 Organisation for the Prohibition Of Chemical Weapons
Schedule 8 International Maritime Organisation
Schedule 9 Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation
Schedule 10 European Police College
Schedule 11 International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
Schedule 12 European Organisation for Nuclear Research
Schedule 13 International Organisation for Migration
Schedule 14 European Union Military Staff
Schedule 15 European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere [pending]
Other international organisations enjoy immunities and privileges by virtue of Westminster legislation, for example the European Communities Act 1972 which covers EU staff. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have provided the following applicable list of international organisations in the UK (excluded from this list are organisations already mentioned):
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO)
CAB International
International Coffee Organisation (ICO)
International Development Corporation (IDC)
Commonwealth Foundation
International Finance Commission (IFC) – World Bank Group
Commonwealth Secretariat
International Grains Council (IGC)
Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO)
International Maritime Organisation (IMO)
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
European Banking Authority (EBA)
International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (IOPCF)
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)
European Commission
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
European Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency (GSA/GSMC)
International Sugar Organisation (ISO)
European Investment Bank (EIB)
European Medicine Agency (EMA)
International Whaling Commission
European Molecular Biology Laboratory (Outstation) – European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI)
North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO)
European Parliament
North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC)
European Parliament Office in Scotland Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
European School
OSPAR Commission
European Space Agency (ESA)
UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)
Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)
UN Information Centre (UNIC)
Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO)
UN World Food Programme
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) – World Bank Group
In addition to these international organisations diplomatic immunity will be applicable to diplomats.
Schedule 1 International Mobile Satellite Organisation
Schedule 2 International Telecommunications Satellite Organisation
Schedule 3 Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation
Schedule 4 International Seabed Authority
Schedule 5 European Court of Human Rights
Schedule 6 UNESCO
Schedule 7 Organisation for the Prohibition Of Chemical Weapons
Schedule 8 International Maritime Organisation
Schedule 9 Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organisation
Schedule 10 European Police College
Schedule 11 International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
Schedule 12 European Organisation for Nuclear Research
Schedule 13 International Organisation for Migration
Schedule 14 European Union Military Staff
Schedule 15 European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere [pending]
Other international organisations enjoy immunities and privileges by virtue of Westminster legislation, for example the European Communities Act 1972 which covers EU staff. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have provided the following applicable list of international organisations in the UK (excluded from this list are organisations already mentioned):
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO)
CAB International
International Coffee Organisation (ICO)
International Development Corporation (IDC)
Commonwealth Foundation
International Finance Commission (IFC) – World Bank Group
Commonwealth Secretariat
International Grains Council (IGC)
Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO)
International Maritime Organisation (IMO)
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
European Banking Authority (EBA)
International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (IOPCF)
European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)
European Commission
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
European Global Navigation Satellite Systems Agency (GSA/GSMC)
International Sugar Organisation (ISO)
European Investment Bank (EIB)
European Medicine Agency (EMA)
International Whaling Commission
European Molecular Biology Laboratory (Outstation) – European Bioinformatics Institute (EBI)
North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO)
European Parliament
North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission (NEAFC)
European Parliament Office in Scotland Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
European School
OSPAR Commission
European Space Agency (ESA)
UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC)
Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI)
UN Information Centre (UNIC)
Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO)
UN World Food Programme
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) – World Bank Group
In addition to these international organisations diplomatic immunity will be applicable to diplomats.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S5W-08848 by reference.