§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the average costs of running an embassy (a) in Europe, (b) in Asia, (c) in Africa and (d) in North and South America; and if he will break down the figures involved.
§ Mr. RentonIn the financial year 1983–84 the costs of the embassies and high commissions concerned were as follows:
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Saleries and allowances Other allowances and payments to United Kingdom staff Local staff expenditures Travel costs Accommodation Transport Communications Miscellaneous Total expenditure Europe Total 13,208,943 1,309,590 7,497,361 1,532,768 8,475,831 398,547 4,859,803 728,886 38,011,729 Highest cost post (Paris) 1,557,489 214,134 1,107,877 65,638 1,081,844 33,495 570,744 109,957 4,741,178 Lowest cost post (Reykjavik) 86,635 3,100 32,065 5,015 10,272 2,233 23,455 1,776 164,551 Arithmetic mean 471,747 46,771 267,763 54,742 302,708 14,234 173,564 26,032 1,357,561 Asia Total 12,655,910 1,746,143 7,263,310 4,689,514 12,210,992 591,114 4,386,571 706,319 44,249,873 Highest cost post (Tokyo) 1,194,592 198,231 1,223,414 269,322 1,592,682 22,330 328,373 74,034 4,902,978 Lowest cost post (Vientiane) 52,295 1,895 9,654 24,420 12,530 4,466 15,637 1,067 121,964 Arithmetic mean 372,233 51,357 213,627 137,927 359,146 17,386 129,017 20,774 1,301,467 Africa Total 8,536,387 638,440 2,586,429 2,748,881 3,494,818 436,549 3,042,428 487,267 21,971,199 Highest cost post (Lagos) 1,075,574 61,185 311,708 314,858 367,413 42,427 321,245 82,022 2,576,432 Lowest cost (Brazzaville) 12,890 24,718 1,923 7,046 9,755 2,233 7,818 512 66,895 Arithmetic mean 251,070 18,778 76,071 80,849 102,789 12,840 89,483 14,332 646,212 North and South America Total 6,900,145 981,009 4,267,351 2,548,658 7,523,971 228,993 2,533,251 705,020 25,688,398 Highest cost post (Washington) 2,349,845 478,514 1,549,678 577,814 4,290,871 42,427 844,407 369,276 10,502,832 Lowest cost post (Santo Domingo) 67,000 5,198 34,774 17,369 27,157 4,466 15,637 1,317 172,918 Arithmetic mean 287,506 40,875 177,806 106,194 313,499 9,542 105,552 29,376 1,070,350