§ SIR C. DILKE (Gloucester, Forest of Dean)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the cost of the Consular establishment proper, excluding those Consulates General and other Consulates which are of a political description or connected with the administration of Protectorates; what is the amount of fees received at the commercial Consulates which may be set off against the cost of our Consular system; and whether he can supply or will obtain similar information with regard to the Consulates of Germany France, and Belgium?
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. G. N. CURZON,) Lancashire, SouthportThe cost of the Consular establishment proper, excluding the posts which the right honourable Gentleman desires to omit, was for the year 1896–97, £278,681 15s.2d. Against this have to be set fees and contributions amounting in the aggregate to £92,693 9s. 3d., leaving the net cost at £185,988 5s. 11d. I will inquire whether similar information can be procured with reference to the Consulates of Belgium, France, and Germany.