Section 3 — Legal privileges etc

(1) Except in so far as in any particular case any privilege or immunity is waived by the Commission, the Commission has immunity from suit and legal process.

(2) Except in so far as in any particular case the Commission waives it, the Commission has the like inviolability of official archives and premises as in accordance with the 1961 Convention Articles is accorded in respect of the official archives and premises of a diplomatic mission.

(3) The Secretary of State may by regulations—

(a) confer on the Commission, in such cases, to such extent and with such modifications as the regulations may specify, any of the privileges and immunities set out in Part 1 of Schedule 1 to the International Organisations Act 1968 which are not conferred by subsections (1) and (2);

(b) confer on members and staff of the Commission and members of their families who form part of their households, in such cases, to such extent and with such modifications as the regulations may specify, any of the privileges and immunities set out in Parts 2, 3 and 5 of Schedule 1 to the International Organisations Act 1968;

(c) make provision about the waiver of privileges and immunities conferred by regulations under paragraph (a) or (b).

(4) In this section—

(a) “the 1961 Convention Articles” means the Articles (being certain Articles of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations signed in 1961) which are set out in Schedule 1 to the Diplomatic Privileges Act 1964;

(b) the reference to staff of the Commission includes agents of, and persons carrying out work for or giving advice to, the Commission.