Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will upgrade the Palestinian General Delegation in London to a diplomatic mission. [42192]

Alistair Burt MP; Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State: We are aware of the steps that some other EU states have taken to upgrade the status of the Palestinian Delegations in their capitals. The Palestinians have made the same request to the UK, which we are considering in accordance with our long standing support for Palestinian state building.

The Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964 and the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987 confer diplomatic privileges and immunities in the UK on accredited diplomats, their families etc. of other states.

As the UK does not recognise Palestine as a state, the Palestinian Authority in the UK is not entitled to the privileges and immunities provided for in the United Kingdom Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964 and the Diplomatic and Consular Premises Act 1987. These Acts implement the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1964 in UK law, a convention that regulates the diplomatic conduct between states.