HC Deb 29 November 1961 vol 650 cc426-7
18. Mr. Goodhart

asked the Lord Privy Seal what assistance the Foreign Office gives to foreign diplomats seeking accommodation in London.

Mr. P. Thomas

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 22nd November.

Mr. Lipton

Has not an extra official been appointed in the Foreign Office to go hunting for accommodation, particularly as the diplomatic representatives from the newly independent African countries find it difficult to get accommodation in London?

Mr. Thomas

Yes, Sir. There is a lady member of the Department who is engaged full-time on these matters; but she does not just help over accommodation, she also advises on any personal problem.

Mr. Healey

In view of the very justified indignation being felt in Nigeria and many other parts of the Commonwealth at the disgusting conduct of certain unnamed British people in daubing the car of the Nigerian representative in this country, cannot he take this opportunity of expressing Her Majesty's Government's view of this incident?

Mr. Thomas

Her Majesty's Government deplore incidents of that sort. We are anxious to assist these people as much as we can, and that is what we are doing.

Forward to