§ 45. Mr. NORTON-GRIFFITHSasked the Prime Minister what are the intentions of His Majesty's Government with reference to improving or modernising the Diplomatic and Consular Service so as to further the interests of the trade and commerce of this country?
§ Mr. ACLANDI prefer to await the recommendations of the Royal Commission which is now sitting before considering whether any changes are necessary in the Diplomatic Service, or any in the Consular Service beyond those recommended in the proposals to which I referred in my reply to the Member for Central Finsbury on the 13th instant. Those proposals, if carried into effect, should be of considerable assistance in securing the object which the hon. Member has in view, though, in my opinion, the services at present rendered to commercial interests by the Consular Service are often unreasonably depreciated. I will, however, gladly consider any specific complaints which the hon. Member has to bring forward.
§ Mr. NORTON-GRIFFITHSCan the hon. Gentleman state when the result of the Commission will be available?
§ Mr. ACLANDWe have approached the Treasury, with a view to considerable improvements in the Consular Service, and we hope to hear from them shortly.
§ Mr. NORTON-GRIFFITHSWill he lay the correspondence on the Table?
§ Mr. ACLANDThere are communications between the Foreign Office and the Treasury asking for increases of salary, and although I should be glad to give any answer with regard to it, it is not correspondence which one would naturally lay.