Gothenburg (Consulate-General)

HC Deb 18 December 1979 vol 976 cc172-3W

Mr. Edward Lyons

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will reconsider the closure of the United Kingdom's consulate-general at Gothenburg, Sweden.

Mr. Luce

The consulate-general in Gothenburg is not to be closed but reduced in size to a consulate. The new office will be headed by a diplomatic service officer whose main task will be to ensure, in co-operation with the commercial section of the embassy in Stockholm, that essential commercial services are available in the Gothenburg area.

Mr. Dubs

asked the Lord Privy Seal what representations he has received concerning the proposed closure of the British consulate-general in Gothenburg, Sweden; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Luce

The consulate-general is not being closed. On 15 November, my hon. Friend the Minister of State—the hon. Member for Mid-Oxon—(Mr. Hurd) explained the change in staff and operations to the Lord Mayor of Gothenburg when he called at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. We have also received a number of letters on this subject from British firms and their Swedish agents.