The International Organisations (Immunities and Privileges) (Scotland) Order 2009

High and other officers

8.—(1) Except in so far as in any particular case such immunity or privilege is waived by the Organisation, there shall be accorded to the Secretary General of the Organisation, the Deputy Secretary General (or, in the absence of both, any other official specially designated to act on behalf of the Secretary General), the Secretary of the Maritime Safety Committee and the Directors of the Administrative Division, the Technical Co operation Division, the Legal Affairs and External Relations Division, the Conference Division and the Marine Environment Division–

(a) the like immunity from suit and legal process as is accorded to or in respect of the head of a diplomatic mission;

(b) the like inviolability of residence as is accorded to or in respect of the head of a diplomatic mission; and

(c) the like exemption or relief from local taxes (as described in the exception in Section A1 of Part II of Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998) as is accorded to or in respect of the head of a diplomatic mission.

(2) This paragraph shall not apply to any person who is a British citizen, a British overseas territories citizen, a British Overseas citizen or a British National (Overseas) or who is a permanent resident of the United Kingdom.

9.—(1) Except in so far as in any particular case such immunity or privilege is waived by the Organisation, there shall be accorded to any officer of the Organisation (other than the officers referred to in paragraph 8) who is recognised by Her Majesty’s Government in the United Kingdom as holding a rank equivalent to that of a diplomatic agent the like exemption or relief from local taxes (as described in the exception in Section A1 of Part II of Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998) as, in accordance with Article 34 of the 1961 Convention Articles, is accorded to a diplomatic agent.

(2) This paragraph shall not apply to any person who is a British citizen, a British overseas territories citizen, a British Overseas citizen or a British National (Overseas) or who is a permanent resident of the United Kingdom.

10.  Except in so far as in any particular case such immunity is waived by the Organisation, all officers of the Organisation (excluding those who are recruited locally and assigned to hourly rates of pay) shall enjoy immunity from suit and legal process in respect of words written or spoken and all acts done or omitted to be done by them in the course of the performance of their official duties.