§ Sir ALBERT SPICERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the desirability of improving the conditions of the Consular service, he can give information showing, apart from the annual payments, salaries, etc., to Consular offices, the number, age, nationality, and remuneration received by the clerks employed in the principal Consulates and Consulates-General and the special duties assigned to these employes, whose remunerations are covered by office allowances, as well as the rent paid for and address of the respective Consular offices?
§ Sir E. GREYThe clerical staffs of the Consulates in the general service are not in the direct employment of His Majesty's Government, but in that of the Consuls, who delegate to them such clerical duties as they see fit, and as they are legally competent to discharge. I am not in a position to give full particulars as to the Consular clerks in question. Consular officers are themselves in most cases the legal tenants of the Consular offices, and pay the rent out of the sum assigned as office allowance. Such office allowances are fixed with the sanction of the Treasury from time to time, according to the needs of the various posts. Consular officers are instructed to furnish the Foreign Office with the address of their offices, and these are available if required, but for postal purposes "British Consulate" is a sufficient address. Should the hon. Member have definite suggestions to make as to
1902Wimproving the conditions of the Consular service, perhaps he will be kind enough to communicate them.