§ MR. NORMAN (Wolverhampton, S.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the facts that no inquiry has been held into the constitution and management of the Consular Service for nearly thirty years; that the duties of Consuls have increased during that period; that there is no recognised method or condition of appointment to the Consular Service; that places no longer of importance have highly placed Consular officials, while others of growing importance have few or subordinate Consuls; whether he will consider the advisability of appointing a Committee, either Departmental or Parliamentary, to inquire into the condition of the Consular Service and to report what changes, if any, in its organisation are desirable.
§ THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Lord CRANBORNE,) RochesterIt is the fact that the duties of Consuls have increased during the last thirty years, I cannot, however, admit the accuracy of the other statements in the Question as to the Consular Service. The whole question of its constitution and management is at present under consideration by the Foreign Office, in communication with the Treasury and Board of Trade.