HC Deb 24 March 1976 vol 908 cc202-4W
Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the names and salaries of the staff at the British Consulate in Bahrain.

Mr. Ennals

Two United Kingdom members of Her Majesty's Embassy in Bahrain perform consular duties, which account for less than one-fifth of their time. They are Mr. E. H. Noble and Mr. M. W. Tym, who are in Diplomatic Service grades 6 and 9 respectively; the current salary scales for those grades are £5,365–£6,365 p.a. and £2,350–£4,135 p.a.

In addition, the Consular Section employs one locally-engaged clerk whose current salary is £3,202 p.a.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied that a two-week delay in visiting a gravely injured British subject in a Bahrain hospital was the best service that could have been provided by the consulate.

Mr. Ennals

This United Kingdom citizen was admitted to hospital on 30th January. She was and is being visited by friends and colleagues of her late husband and by an Embassy chaplain who is in close touch with the Consul. The Consul visited the patient the day following receipt of a request from my Department that he should do so.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many official functions were held in the British Consulate in Bahrain in each of the last three years; what was the average cost of such functions; and what was the average number of guests.

Mr. Ennals

The numbers of guests entertained by the two Consular Officers in Bahrain, together with the costs in each of the past three complete financial years, are as follows:

1972–73 … 470 guests … £917
1973–74 … 997 guests … £944
1974–75 … 797 guests … £780

The number of official functions covered by these figures is not readily available.

Both officers have other duties, and consular work occupies less than one-fifth of their time. It is not practicable to divide their official entertaining between consular and non-consular functions.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the functions of the Bahrain consular staff.

Mr. Ennals

These embrace the whole range of consular duties, both statutory and non-statutory, namely:

Statutory Duties under the Merchant Shipping Acts. Registration of births and deaths. Solemnisation and registration of marriages. Performance of notarial acts. Service of documents and taking of evidence. Nationality services. Levying of. consular fees. Duties under the Children's and Young Persons' Acts.

Non-Statutory Issue of passports. Issue of visas and entry clearance certificates. Relief and repatriation of distressed British subjects. Protection of British subjects and institutions, including assistance in cases of death, illness, arrest, proposed deportation, etc. This includes prison and hospital visiting. Maintenance of close and good relations with the British community. Presentation of claims. Administration of estates. Advancing foreign currency to visiting United Kingdom citizens. Assistance with Royal Naval visits. Adoption. Extradition. Nationality services. Registration of British subjects overseas and action in times of emergency. Miscellaneous.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British staff are employed at the Bahrain Consulate.

Mr. Ennals

There is no separate consulate in Bahrain. The Head of Chancery of the Embassy is also Consul in addition to his other duties and he is assisted by a Vice-Consul who is also the Third Secretary, responsible for administration.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the annual cost of keeping his consulate in Bahrain.

Mr. Ennals

Consular work at Bahrain is covered on a part-time basis by two United Kingdom based and two locally-engaged members of the staff of the British Embassy. The estimated annual cost of such work is between £5,000 and £6,000.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British subjects are domiciled in Bahrain.

Mr. Ennals

There are in excess of 4,500 United Kingdom citizens resident in Bahrain. The Embassy has no means of knowing how many of these persons may be domiciled there.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will dismiss the British Consul in Bahrain.

Mr. Ennals

No.