§ 32. Mr. DAYasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he can state the number of consular officers on the active list who at present represent Great Britain abroad; the 191 number of these officers who are paid and the number unpaid; and whether he will state the number of consular officers representing Great Britain unpaid who are not British subjects, and have any recent new regulations been issued with reference to the Consular Service?
§ Mr. GILLETT (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)The figures are as follow:
Of these unsalaried officers 145 are not British subjects.
Total number of British consular officers 897 Salaried 376 Unsalaried 521 No new regulations have been issued recently.
§ Mr. DAYIs it not a fact that many of the unpaid consular officers occupy positions with commercial companies whose interests are in direct opposition to those of Great Britain?
§ Mr. GILLETTI am afraid I could not make any statement about that.
§ Mr. ALBERYIs it the intention of the Government wherever possible to replace foreign consular officers by British subjects?
§ Mr. GILLETTI understand it has been the custom since the War, when new appointments have had to be made, to appoint non-British subjects only when the Government were satisfied that no suitable British subject was available.