Alberta Consulate: Closure (Hansard, 21 June 1991)

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, no.

§ Lord Boyd-Carpenter
My Lords, I thank my noble friend for that particularly courteous reply. Is he aware that the Premier of Alberta is in London at the moment? Rather than rushing into this decision, it surely would have been better manners, if nothing else, when he was going to be in London to have consulted him on a matter affecting his province very considerably. Can my noble friend confirm that several of our European neighbours think it well worth while to maintain their consulates general in Alberta?

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, we are aware that the Premier of Alberta has been, and remains, in London this week. The Premier is already fully aware of the reasons for our decision to close the post in Edmonton and of the steps we are taking to ensure an effective protection of our interests in Alberta from our post in Vancouver. My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the 341 Foreign and Commonwealth Office met Mr. Getty, the Premier, on Wednesday evening. We have been pleased to find that the disappointment about the closure, of the post has been accompanied by a welcome degree of understanding of the problems we faced and the way we were proposing to organise things in the future.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, has it not become perfectly clear since our last exchange in the House on the subject a few days ago that the disappointment and distress in Alberta about the Government's decision to close the consulate are very considerable indeed? Will the noble Lord convey to his rig ht honourable friend the reasonable point made by the noble Lord, Lord Boyd-Carpenter? The House would regard it as less than courteous if the Government did not make arrangements to discuss this matter with the Premier of Alberta while he is present in London. On another point, can the noble Lord give the figures for our exports to Alberta and our imports from Alberta during the year 1990–91?

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, I really think that all the courtesies have been observed. Before his visit this week, the Premier of Alberta had spoken with our High Commission in Ottawa. Mr. Getty is fully aware of the reasons for our decision to close the post in Edmonton and of the steps we are taking to ensure effective protection of our interests in Alberta from our post in Vancouver. Moreover, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State has explained the situation in reply to a letter from the Deputy Premier of Alberta.
It is always sad to close a diplomatic post. The decision about Edmonton, and other posts, was taken only after the most careful consideration. With regard to the final question of the noble Lord the Leader of the Opposition, I am afraid that I do not have the figures for the exports and imports he mentioned. However, I shall be pleased to write to him on the matter.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, can the Minister say whether the Foreign Office is aware that the Rockies lie between Edmonton and Vancouver?

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, I did refer to a map; and, indeed, both the officials and myself are aware of that fact.

§ Lord Boyd-Carpenter
My Lords, will my noble friend now answer the part of my question in which I asked explicitly whether several other major European powers were retaining their posts in Edmonton, thereby indicating, of course, that they thought they were well worth maintaining? Further, in the context of his last reply to the noble Lord the Leader of the Opposition, is my noble friend aware that the idea that you am look after Edmonton from Vancouver, which is 500 miles away across the Rockies, is received with derision?

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, our allies—that is, the United States, the Germans and the French—all maintain offices in Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. In addition, the Americans 342 have offices in Calgary, Halifax and Quebec City. The Germans have offices in Edmonton, and the French in Edmonton, Quebec City and Moncton. Therefore, there are differences.
We have every reason to suppose that we can service Alberta properly in the way proposed. I hope that my noble friend will accept that there are reasons for this; it is not just a matter of economy. The opening-up of Eastern Europe has also required us to find 23 extra diplomatic staff and give aid through the creation of know-how funds. A new post is to be opened in Kiev, and elsewhere we have re-opened missions in Damascus and Tehran. I am sure that my noble friend will understand the significance of these changes in the present circumstances.

§ Lord Harris of Greenwich
My Lords, the German Government have also increased their representation in Eastern Europe. Why is it only the British Government who have decided to shut their mission in Alberta? It seems to me an extraordinary decision.

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, we have to set priorities. Given the financial pressures on operations by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, we have, with great reluctance, closed the post. For the same reason, we are considering a limited number of further post closures. Others of our allies are closing posts around the world.

§ Lord Cockfield
My Lords, is it not an extreme argument to suggest that we should turn our back on the British Commonwealth in order to secure greater representation in Soviet Russia? Is my noble friend aware of the great sensitivity of the matter and the fact that the countries which make up Canada are states with their own governments, their own Parliaments, their own traditions and their own culture? Is he also aware that it is just as insensitive to tell the citizens of Alberta that they have to go to a neighbouring province as it would be to move the Scottish Office to Cardiff and tell the Scots that there was a perfectly good air service?

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, Ministers attach great value to our relations with Canada and have worked hard, with success, in recent years to re-energise them. The closure of the Edmonton post does not reflect any change in that attitude. As I said, as a result of the Premier's visit, I believe that the Albertans are taking a sympathetic view on the matter, even if they are disappointed.

§ Lord Ezra
My Lords, does the Minister agree that our commercial and industrial relations with Alberta are probably at as high a level now as ever? Is he aware that, for example, British Gas recently acquired an investment in Alberta worth 500 million dollars, that the Albertan oil companies have a big interest in the North Sea and that our water companies are working in Alberta? That is just an illustration of the strength of the effective commercial and industrial ties that exist between us. In those circumstances, does he not think that the Government could gain great credit by going back on, and postponing, their decision?

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, I cannot offer the prospect of postponing the decision. However, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Ezra, for his remarks. I join him in paying tribute to the British activity in Alberta.

§ Lord Auckland
My Lords, despite what my noble friend the Minister said, is he aware that there are many of us, including myself, who in a small way are trying to increase business between the United Kingdom and Canada? Is he not aware that Alberta is probably the one province in Canada, especially as regards Calgary and Edmonton, where such business is transacted? Has he had any contact with the Anglo-Canadian Chamber of Commerce? If not, will he at least ask his right honourable friend to consult that body?

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, I am not aware of whether we have had that contact. I shall certainly pass on my noble friend's message. I believe that the servicing of Calgary, which is important, will continue unchanged from what it was formerly.

§ Lord Tordoff
My Lords, as regards this great deployment of people from Alberta to Eastern Europe, Tehran and other places, can the Minister say how many of the people who were working in Alberta speak Eastern European languages or, indeed, Farsi?

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, I wonder whether that question is relevant.

§ Lord Molloy
My Lords, I should like to ask the Minister a question which is particularly relevant. It is quite possible that many more Eastern European states could be created as time goes on. Therefore, can we now have an assurance that the situation which we are discussing will not happen again, and that no British Commonwealth country will suffer in its relationship with the United Kingdom if there are further states created in Eastern Europe?

§ Lord Cavendish of Furness
My Lords, I cannot give any such assurance. However, I can assure the noble Lord that we care deeply for our representations in Canada and elsewhere.