§ MR. C. E. PRICE (Edinburgh, Central)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when Mr. Neville Kearney was appointed Vice-Consul at Antwerp; what was his age when appointed; whether he had passed any examinations, and what qualifications he had for the post; and how many men are employed on the staff of the Consul-General in Antwerp, giving their names, ages, and length of service.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYMr. Kearney, who has been a clerk in the Consulate-General at Antwerp since August, 1903, was given the rank of Vice-Consul on the 9th instant on the recommendation of the Consul-General, so as to enable him to sign ships' papers and other official documents. He and one other Vice-Consul, Mr. Robert Cox, are paid out of the allowance for Office Expenses. Mr. W. Lydcotte, who also has the rank of Vice-Consul at Antwerp, receives an allowance of £200. His appointment dates from 1st April, 1891, and that of Mr. Cox from 18th January of that year. These gentlemen are not called upon to pass an examination, as they are not members of the salaried consular ser- 226 vice nominated by the Secretary of State, but form part of the staff selected by the Consul-General. None of these gentlemen will be qualified for pensions.