HC Deb 06 November 1906 vol 164 cc326-7
MR. BOTTOMLEY (Hackney, S.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State or Foreign Affairs whether a knowledge of the English language is made a condition of all appointments in the diplomatic and consular services.

SIR EDWARD GREY

A knowledge of the English language and British nationality is a condition of all appointments in the diplomatic and salaried consular services. If unsalaried consular appointments are held by persons unable to speak English, it is because no suitable English-speaking residents could be found. Unsalaried consular appointments are made at places where British interests are not sufficient to justify a salaried consular appointment.

SIR J. RANDLES (Cumberland, Cockermouth)

Will the right hon. Gentleman also be careful to see that the Consuls know the language of the country to which they are accredited?

SIR EDWARD GREY

Under the rules in operation now every candidate for the consular service has to undergo an examination in which a knowledge of the language is, of course, one of the features.

MR. BOTTOMLEY

Am I to understand that before any appointment is made of an unsalaried official efforts are-made to obtain a British subject for the post?

SIR EDWARD GREY

As I explained the other day †, unsalaried appointments-are only made when it is considered that the British interests are insufficient to justify a salary. In such cases a choice has to be made from people resident in the locality, and if there is one of British nationality of course we give him the preference.

MR. BOTTOMLEY

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what fees and emoluments are received by unsalaried members of the consular service.

SIR EDWARD GREY

Unsalaried consular officers either receive allowances † See (4) Debates, clxiii., 880. equal to about three-quarters of the value of the fees levied by them, or allowances to cover their actual office expenses. In the latter case they also retain a proportion of certain fees, as authorised by the Orders in Council made under the Consular Salaries and Fees Act of 1891. In any case the allowance is calculated in order to cover out-of-pocket expenses.