§ Ma. RUNCIMAN (Dewsbury)To ask the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs during what hours is the British Consulate at Algiers open for the transaction of ordinary business connected with British shipping, without the payment of any fees beyond those officially tabulated; what extra fees for overtime are charged for business transacted daring non-official hours in connection with British shipping; to what accounts are the ordinary and the extra fees respectively credited; what is the usual custom regarding the issue of bills of health to British steamers; and is it permissible to supply these in blank to shipbrokers to fill up at their discretion.
(Answered by Earl Percy.) His Majesty's Consul-General at Algiers will be instructed to report what the business hours of the Consulate-General are, and also what is the usual custom regarding the issue of bills of health to British steamers. For the transaction of any business for which a fee is leviable, for each half-hour in the day time, that is to say, between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 p.m., not during the customary business hours of the place, a fee of 5s. is charged, of which the Consul retains one-half; for
†See (Debates, cxliii., 9.1048 each half-hour at night, that is to say, between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. a fee of 10s. is charged, of which the Consul retains four-fifths. Ordinary fees are credited to His Majesty's Government, as are also the remaining portions of the extra fees.