HC Deb 23 January 1957 vol 563 cc59-60W
119. Mr. Teeling

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the present cost of the Consulate-General at Nice; what sums are received which can be put against the cost and how far he estimates that these sums are likely to be paid to the Consulate at Marseilles or lost altogether; what number of staff will be transferred and what number dismissed; how long the latter have been in the British Consular Service; and what will be the cost of their pensions.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

The cost of maintaining Her Majesty's Consulate-General at Nice in 1955–56 (the last complete year for which figures are available) was £17,650. Consular fees received during 1955–56 amounted to £1,823. There is no reason to suppose that these fees, being paid in respect of essential services, will not in future be paid to Her Majesty's Consulate-General at Marseilles.

The appointments of the eleven unestablished locally-engaged members of the staff are being terminated. Seven have been employed in the Consulate-General for ten to sixteen years, and four for two to eight years. Unestablished locally-engaged staff are not entitled to pensions, but terminal gratuities will be paid to all eleven amounting in total to about £3,580. Her Majesty's Consul-General, who joined the former Levant Consular Service in 1926, having reached the retiring age is retiring on pension.

120. Mr. Teeling

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in view of the severe petrol rationing in France, he will consider postponing the closing of the Consulate-General in Nice and its transference to Marseilles until the restrictions in France have been removed; and why the date for the closing has been fixed for 31st January and not for the end of the financial year.

Mr. Ormsby-Gore

The imposition of petrol rationing need not affect the timing of the closure of Her Majesty's Consulate-General at Nice. The 31st of January, 1957, was chosen as meeting to a reasonable extent the needs both for economy in expenditure and for adequate notice to the staff of the termination of their appointments.