§ MR. BAILLIE COCHRANEasked the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether by a new Regulation 299 Consuls serving in South. America, China, or any trying climate, are permitted to count for every year of service two years towards a pension; and, if so, why the same favour is not extended to the diplomatic service?
§ MR. BOURKENo, Sir; there is no new regulation to the effect suggested. A regulation was agreed upon between the late Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and the Board of Treasury by which two years' service in unhealthy climates was to count as three in calculating the pensions for the consular service. That is in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee of the House of Commons on the Diplomatic and Consular Services. The regulation is intended to meet the consular case of officers stationed for considerable periods at particularly unhealthy places. It was not recommended by the Committee for the Diplomatic Service, whose members are not as a rule stationed at places to which it would apply.