HC Deb 16 December 1911 vol 32 cc2861-2W
Mr. NOEL BUXTON

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what allowances for expenses of removal are made to junior members of the Diplomatic Service on transfer from one post to another; whether such allowances are adequate to cover the cost of transporting household effects; and whether any compensation is paid to those members who are moved at short intervals to meet the cost of installation in their new post; and whether he will call for a Report showing what is done in this respect in the German, Austrian, French, and Italian services?

Sir EDWARD GREY

Travelling expenses are paid and £1 a day is allowed for subsistence whilst travelling. First and second secretaries can charge for a servant and for one-third of the travelling expenses of their families. Since 1904 more liberal treatment has been given in regard to heavy luggage, but the transport of household effects is not included. Furnished quarters are provided at a few posts, but otherwise no provision is made for installation. The French Government give allowances of £48 to secretaries for this purpose. Full information has been obtained as to the practice in Germany as well as in France, and it is understood that similar rules are in force in other countries.

Mr. NOEL BUXTON

asked the Foreign Secretary whether the Diplomatic Service is open only to persons with a private income of at least £400 a year; whether this stipulation equally applies to the Foreign Office; and, if not, how the difficulty of transfer from service at home to service abroad is overcome; and whether such transfers are considered desirable in the interests of efficiency or not?

Sir E. GREY

With regard to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on the 27th ultimo to the hon. Member for West Leeds. The answer to the second part is in the negative. With regard to the remainder of the question, such transfers are voluntary and difficulty docs not arise. Generally speaking, it is considered desirable to encourage temporary transfers.