§ Mr. FatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been spent on the residence of the former British high commissioner in Kiribati on(a) the sub-lease, (b) ground rent and (c) fixtures, fittings and furnishings since the property was acquired on 31 March 1984. [5484]
§ Mr. HanleyThe information is as follows:
- (a) Sub-lease purchased in 1984 for Australian $65,000 or approximately £30,000.
- (b) Ground rent Australian $142 or approximately £64 per annum for 11 years, total £704.
- (c) £9,974 has been spent on fixtures, fittings and furnishings since 1 April 1992. Figures before that date could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. FatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the residence of the former British high commissioner in Kiribati is to be handed over with fixtures, fittings and furnishings still in place; and if he will make a statement. [5485]
§ Mr. HanleyAll fixtures, fittings and furnishings of any value have been removed for use elsewhere.
576W
§ Mr. FatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what use the former British high commissioner's residence in Kiribati is to be put after handover to the Kiribati Government; and if he will make a statement. [5486]
§ Mr. HanleyThis will be for the Government of Kiribati to decide.
§ Mr. FatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the locations of British high commissioners' residences overseas; which buildings are sited on foreign Government-owned land and sub-leased to the British Government on terms similar to the Kiribati property; and if he will make a statement. [5487]
§ Mr. HanleyA list of the locations of British high commissioners' residences is given in "A". A list of those sited on foreign Government-owned land and sub-leased on terms similar to those for the high commissioner's residence in Kiribati is in list "B".
List A
Location of High Commission Residences.
- Abuja
- Accra
- Antigua
- Bandar Seri Begawan
- Banjul
- Belmopan
- Bridgetown
- canberra
- Castries
- Colombo
- Dar es Salaam
- Dhaka
- Freetown
- Gaborone
- Georgetown
- Harare
- Honiara
- Islamabad
- Kampala
- Kingston
- Kingstown
- Kuala Lumpur
- Lilongwe
- Lusaka
- Maseru
- Maputo
- Mbabane
- Nairobi
- Nassau
- New Delhi
- Nicosia
- Nuku'alofa
- Ottawa
- Port Louis
- Port Moresby
- Port of Spain
- Pretoria
- Singapore
577 - St. Georges
- Valletta
- Victoria
- Vila
- Wellington
- Windhoek
- Yaoundé.
List B
Location of residences sited on foreign Government-owned land and sub-leased on terms similar to those for the High Commissioner's residence in Kiribati.
- Accra
- Banjul
- Canberra
- Dhaka
- Honiara
- Islamabad
- Kampala
- Lusaka
- Nuku'alofa
- Port Moresby
- Vila.
§ Mr. FatchettTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the British high commissions that have closed in the last five years; how each property has been disposed of; what was the original purchase price and the sale price obtained for each property where appropriate; and if he will make a statement. [5488]
§ Mr. HanleyThe only high commission to have closed in the last five years is that in Kiribati. The high commission offices have been transferred to the Overseas Development Administration. It is intended that the former high commissioner's residence should be handed over to the Government of Kiribati. Details of the cost of sub-lease purchase and ground rent are in my earlier answer.