§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the total cost of 344W employed by his Department outside the United Kingdom; what has been the total cost of such staff over the last five years on an annual basis; how many such staff are United Kingdom nationals; and how many are non-United Kingdom nationals.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe numbers and cost of all staff employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office overseas, including staff of other Government Departments seconded to the Diplomatic Service, over the past five years are as follows:
rentals and acquisitions of property outside the United Kingdom by his Department over the last five years on an annual basis, and the total costs of repairs and modernisation to such buildings over the same period; and what arrangements there are for authorising such expenditure.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe total cost of rentals and maintenance of residential and office accommodation at posts overseas as borne by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Vote during the past five years is given in the table below.
Rent £ million Maintenance £ 1970–71 … … 41 199,481 1971–72 … … 4.3 245,514 1972–73 … … 4.5 238,871 1973–74 … … 5.2 294,889 1974–75 … … 6.2 317,617 The Property Services Agency is responsible for acquisition of property overseas by purchase or construction, for long-term leased accommodation, and for the cost of repair, modernisation and maintenance of such property.
Expenditure on residential and office accommodation by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is subject to continuous budgetary control within the Department. Accountable delegated authority is granted to heads of overseas posts for certain minor routine maintenance expenditure which, under the terms of the lease of the property concerned, is not the responsibility of the landlord.