Overview

This bill grants the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) specific legal status and privileges in the UK. It allows the government to grant them legal capacity as corporate bodies and various immunities and privileges similar to those afforded to international organisations and diplomatic missions. This includes tax exemptions, protection from legal action, and protection of confidential information.

Description

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA)

The bill enables the King, by Order in Council (a formal order from the monarch), to grant the CPA the legal status of a body corporate. It also allows for the granting of privileges and immunities detailed in the Schedule to the CPA itself and to its Secretary-General (or equivalent) including protection from legal processes, tax exemptions, and inviolability of archives and premises.

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

Similarly, the bill permits the King, by Order in Council, to grant the ICRC the legal capacity of a body corporate. It allows the government to grant privileges and immunities to the ICRC and its high-ranking officers and staff, similar to those of the CPA. Crucially, it also includes a provision for exempting confidential information obtained by the UK government from the ICRC from disclosure requirements, subject to exceptions where the ICRC publishes the information or agrees to its disclosure.

Orders in Council and Parliamentary Approval

All Orders in Council made under this bill must be approved by both Houses of Parliament before they are enacted. The Orders can include provisions for waiving immunities, specifying exceptions, and making arrangements for tax exemptions.

Evidence and Interpretation

The bill includes provisions for certificates issued by the Secretary of State to act as conclusive evidence regarding the entitlement to privileges or immunities. It clarifies definitions within the bill and specifies its extension to the entire UK.

Government Spending

The bill's financial impact is unclear. While it grants tax exemptions and other potential financial benefits to the CPA and ICRC, it is difficult to assess their full extent without knowing the specifics laid out in the Orders in Council yet to be determined. No specific figures on government spending are provided.

Groups Affected

The bill primarily affects:

• The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA): Will gain legal status and potential privileges and immunities.
• The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): Will gain legal status and potential privileges and immunities, including protection of confidential information.
• UK Government: Will have the responsibility of drafting and implementing Orders in Council and managing any related financial implications.
• UK Courts and Tribunals: Will need to consider the implications of the new exemptions from disclosure requirements relating to the ICRC.
• Taxpayers: The potential tax exemptions granted to the CPA and ICRC could indirectly affect taxpayers.

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