HC Deb 15 December 1947 vol 445 cc1436-7
12. Mr. William Teeling

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement about the new regulations for pay and allowances for members of the Diplomatic and Consular Service serving abroad; and how they can in future be adjusted to local cost of living.

Mr. Mayhew

The regulations for the Senior Branch of the Foreign Service were published in the "London Gazette" on 14th January last. Since then the salary scale of certain grades has been revised, parallel with revisions effected in the Home scales. Regulations for the executive and clerical and the typing branches have also been published this year. Foreign allowances are calculated to meet the needs of posts individually and are fixed after visits by Foreign Service inspectors. The great majority of countries have been visited recently and the survey should be completed in 1948. Provision is made for automatic adjustments in allowances to take account of significant variations in cost of living and rates of exchange.

Mr. Teeling

Does the hon. Gentleman realise that 1948 is a long way off, and can he make sure that the people who have been suffering in the last year or two because of this position will be reimbursed for any losses they may have suffered?

Mr. Mayhew

Yes, Sir. The adjustments will be retrospective.

Mr. Teeling

Will the hon. Gentleman make sure that Ambassadors and Ministers will be allowed some elasticity in future, if any local financial crisis arises, to help their subordinates before a decision has been reached by the Treasury?

Mr. Mayhew

I appreciate that suggestion, and I will consider it.

Mr. Vernon Bartlett

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us how many officials are carrying out this survey? He will appreciate that the cost of living in these different countries changes quickly, and that it is important that these surveys should be made frequently.

Mr. Mayhew

I cannot say without notice. But I would like to point out that the arrangements they make are not designed to adjust certain scales of allowances to the cost of living, but to lay down a formula by which the allowances are related to the cost of living.