HC Deb 08 March 1916 vol 80 cc1514-5
7. Mr. MALCOLM

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why it is necessary to provide a new office in Paris for the purpose of stamping passports for Great Britain, seeing that this duty has been admirably performed since the outbreak of war at the British Consulate-General, and that the number of passports has enormously diminished during the past year; if be can state the rent paid for the new offices in the Rue Chauveau Lagarde and the salaries of the staff, and whether the secretary in charge will be a member of the Consular service?

The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Tennant)

The Permit Office in Paris has been established to deal with passengers proceeding from France to the United Kingdom. It is the counterpart of an organisation in London under the control of the French military authorities, who have also detailed an officer and assistants to co-operate in Paris. The work of the Permit Office will not be confined to the perfunctory stamping of passports, and the nature of the work necessitates the employment of a staff which, unlike that of the Consul-General, can give its entire time and attention to the objects in view. The number of passports issued generally has increased and not diminished, but this has little relation to the work to be accomplished at the new Permit Office. The rent paid for the offices in the Rue Chauveau Lagarde is at the rate of 7,000 francs per annum. The salaries of the staff appointed by the War Office amount to £2,050 per annum. There is also a Home Office representative paid by that Department. In addition, an official of the Consular service assists in an honorary capacity. The officer in charge is not a member of the Consular service. The Army Council has found the establishment of this office a necessity, for reasons which it is not desirable to state at present, and it is anticipated that its formation will result in a saving in time, labour, and expense in other directions.

Mr. ASHLEY

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why this arrangement has been made when the Consul-General with a few more clerks would have done just as well and at considerably less expense?

Mr. TENNANT

I am informed that my hon. Friend is not correct in that assumption.