§ 6. Sir ROBERT BALFOURasked what improvements have recently been made in the salaries and allowances of Consular officers; and what new posts have been created?
§ Mr. ACLANDThe Treasury have now granted approximately £20,000 per annum for improving the conditions of the Consular service, in addition to a sum of over £7,000 granted during the course of the past year. The salaries of many of the posts have been increased, and higher local allowances have been granted at the 679 more expensive posts. More liberal treatment is to be accorded in future in the matter of outfit allowances and travelling expenses of officers and their families on transfer and when proceeding on leave of absence. Various increases have been made in the office allowances, in order that the Consulates may be better housed and staffed. New salaried Vice-Consulates have been provided for recently at Rostov, Novorossisk, Portland (Oregon), Venice, Dar es Salaam, Rabat, Cavalla, and in Portuguese West Africa. Further proposals respecting office and local allowances and the establishment of new posts in Central and South America, which will entail considerable extra expenditure, are now under the consideration of the Treasury.
§ Major ARCHER-SHEEHas the hon. Gentleman got the information as regards the French and German Consular service promised some time ago?
§ Mr. ACLANDThat would be a different question.