§ 66. Captain HACKINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the fact that the Consular Service Order in Council of 6th March, 1896, Section 4, gives him definite limited power to require any officer to retire from the Consular Service only if he has ceased, from whatever cause, to be fully competent for the performance of his duty, he will state by whom the definite unlimited power was conferred upon him to retire a Consular officer at any time, under any circumstances, in spite of the fact that such Consular officer may be fully competent and whose age is within the limit for compulsory retirement, and by whomso- 408 ever the unlimited power was given him, he will consider the advisability of having it incorporated in an Order in Council, so that those anxious to join the Consular Service may know the risks they run?
§ Sir H. GREENWOOD (Secretary of the Department of Overseas Trade—Development and Intelligence)The first part of this question has already been covered by my reply to the hon. and gallant Member on 26th November, with reference to the case of Sir W. Wilkinson. With regard to the second part I see no reason for altering the existing practice, which is not peculiar to the Consular Service.
§ Captain HACKINGMay I point out that that part of the question with regard to the definite limited power has not been answered?
§ Sir H. GREENWOODI am sorry to disagree with my hon. Friend, but I think that that part of the question was answered on 26th November last.