CLAUSE 3:
PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES:
SUPPLEMENTARIES
1.
Will this not lead to more abuses by privileged and immune
people? As I have said, the privileges and immunities covered by this clause are the minimum commensurate with our obligation under
international law and custom to ensure the unencumbered work of the
organisation. They are not, in my view, likely to lead to abuse. MIGA will have its principal office in Washington, and there is no present intention for it to establish an office in Britain. If it subsequently established such an office, it would be necessary for
privileges and immunities to apply here to staff and assets in this
country. As I said, immunity from legal process will apply to MIGA
officials with respect only to acts performed in their official
capacity.
2.
Precisely how will the VAT refund system, referred to in
subpara 4 of Clause 3, be operated? Conditions currently in force
are:
Original invoices must be submitted to the Foreign and
Commonwealth Office with all claims, on form TX15. They
should be dated, describe the goods or services purchased,
and show both the cost and the VAT element.
Evidence of payment, in the form of a receipt or of a
cancelled cheque, must be submitted with each invoice.
Each claim must be accompanied by a schedule, in duplicate,
listing the purchases on which VAT has been charged.
Any documents that are required to be returned must be
submitted in duplicate, so that a copy may be retained by
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Claims should be made at regular intervals, and must be
restricted to purchases made not more than one year prior to
the date of application for refund.
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