HC Deb 20 November 1957 vol 578 cc385-6
33. Mr. Teeling

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the result of the appeal by the staff of the former British Consulate at Nice to the French courts to obtain a larger sum as compensation for dismissal by Her Majesty's Government than Her Majesty's Government was prepared to pay; and what steps he is taking to see that they either obtain other work or are covered by French social security laws against unemployment and illness.

Mr. Ian Harvey

The case brought by the former employees of the British Consulate-General in Nice was yesterday dismissed by the French court. The closure of the Consulate-General at Nice resulted from the call for reduction in expenditure on the Foreign Service and it has therefore not been found possible to provide other work for the staff concerned. Employers' contributions under the French Social Security Service were paid for both British and French employees and all are covered for a period of three months against illness, but only the French employees can qualify for unemployment benefit under the regulations.

Mr. Teeling

Does not my hon. Friend realise that The Times today states: The magistrate based his dismissal of the case upon the absence of any attempt at conciliation between the parties to the suit, as required by the rules of the French labour code. The British Government were not represented in court when the case was argued a fortnight ago. Can my hon. Friend tell me why it is that almost the whole staff at Nice, from the Vice-Consul down—including one member who has been in the Service for 23 years—have all complained that they are not getting enough compensation for having been dismissed? Why is it that the Government are so unwilling to help our people in France and are letting them down for what seem to be sheer mercenary reasons?

Mr. Harvey

Her Majesty's Government do not accept the jurisdiction of the court, because this is essentially a domestic affair concerning the Foreign Office and Foreign Office staff. I have dealt with the other point raised by my hon. Friend in previous Answers.

Mr. Teeling

In view of the completely unsatisfactory reply from my hon. Friend, I beg leave to bring up the whole matter on the Adjournment.