HL Deb 23 March 1981 vol 418 cc958-60

2.42 p.m.

Lord Merrivale

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what accommodation is currently provided for the British Ambassador to Madagascar and his staff, and whether in the longer term it is proposed to provide the Ambassador with a residence in keeping with his status, role and duties.

The Earl of Avon

My Lords, the United Kingdom-based staff of the embassy in Madagascar consists of the Ambassador and a Second Secretary. They work in a rented office, and both the Ambassador and the Second Secretary live in rented houses. We are by no means satisfied with the house that serves as the Ambassador's residence, and we accept that it is too small to enable the Ambassador to fulfil his representational duties adequately. We see it as purely a temporary residence, pending acquisition, by purchase or leasing, of a more suitable property.

Lord Merrivale

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for his understanding on this problem, which is an urgent one. First, may I ask whether the Diplomatic Service's inspectors, who visited the mission this month, reported on this question? Secondly, in view of the difficulty in finding accommodation of a high enough calibre, will consideration be given to the building of a residence on a plot of land of an area of 7,221 square metres, owned by Her Majesty's Government in Antananarivo?

The Earl of Avon

My Lords, as my noble friend is aware, the property situation in this area is at the moment very difficult. I am not aware of the visit he has mentioned, but the estate surveyor's office is keeping this carefully in view. As regards the land we own, it is our intention to sell and the land is on the market. However, building is so costly that the general market in land is very depressed. Perhaps, however, that is not entirely disadvantageous, as it leaves a building option open if we should have to use it.

Lord Goronwy-Roberts

My Lords, does the Minister agree that there might be fairly general support for any moves that the Government found feasible to strengthen our diplomatic representation in Madagascar, and generally in that part of the world, in view of the strategic importance of Madagascar and its potentially great economic and commercial importance to this country?

The Earl of Avon

My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Lord for his remarks, and of course I agree with him. For the information of noble Lords, I am replying to this Question on behalf of the Department of the Environment, rather than the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Lord Brockway

My Lords, is the Minister aware that many of us have heard with astonishment his statement that our Representative in Madagascar is placed in these limited circumstances? Is it not the case that, not only for its large population and potentialities but also for its strategic position between Southern Africa and Mauritius, Madagascar is so enormously important that we should be adequately represented there?

The Earl of Avon

My Lords, I am sure the House would agree that there is no question but that we are adequately represented by our Ambassador there at the moment. If I can come back to the housing problem, which is what the original Question was about, there is a considerable scarcity. Apart from the demand generated by the Malagasy government service, no fewer than 15 new embassies have been opened and they all compete for the few available properties. Very few suitable houses have been built since the present régime took over in 1972, though some are now being built, and this is the problem which we now have.

Lord Merrivale

My Lords, may I ask my noble friend one final question? Can he tell me why the negotiations fell through for the renting of a brand new, most suitable residence in May last year in the Fort Duchesne area just outside Antananarivo?

The Earl of Avon

My Lords, I do not think I can give my noble friend the exact answer to his question, but during the period from March 1979 right up to the present day a considerable number of properties, both for renting and for purchase, have been looked at. All of them have fallen through for various technical reasons and not for reasons to do with Her Majesty's Government's policy.