HC Deb 18 July 1984 vol 64 cc243-5W
Mr. Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give details of the alternative training provision made by his Department since the abandonment of the former Middle East Centre for Arab Studies at Shemlan, Lebanon.

Mr. Whitney

The centre in Shemlan was closed in November 1978. From then until 31 August 1981 the two MECAS courses—intermediate, lasting one year, and higher, lasting five months — were taught in the Diplomatic Service language centre in London by three native-speaker teachers from MECAS, under the part-time direction of a former MECAS teacher who combined this role with a teaching post at St Andrew's university.

In 1981 an agreement was made with the school of oriental and african studies (SOAS) of London University for it to provide training in hard languages, including Arabic, up to intermediate standard. Since then the first year Arabic training has been done by SOAS. This arrangement was reviewed earlier this year and was extended for a further three years. The higher course was taught at St Andrew's university in 1981–82. Since then it has been taught at United Kingdom arabic services in London. Short breaks in Arabic-speaking countries have been arranged each year during both the intermediate and higher courses.

These arrangements will continue in the coming academic year. Additionally, two students are being sent to United Kingdom arabic services for the intermediate course.

Mr. Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will list by name, rank and country of accreditation all persons currently serving in Her Majesty's high commissions or embassies in non-middle-eastern countries with the rank of head of chancery or above who underwent a full-time Arabic language course at the former Middle East Centre for Arab Studies at Shemlan, Lebanon.

Mr. Whitney

The following officers with rank of first secretary or above attended MECAS and are currently serving in non-middle eastern countries:

  • Mr. M. I. Goulding, CMG, Ambassador, Angola
  • Mr. C. M. J. Segar, Head of Chancery, Consul and First Secretary (Commercial), Angola
  • Mr. K. T. Gullick, First Secretary, Australia, Canberra
  • Mr. P. S. Collecott, First Secretary (Economic/Commercial/ Agriculture), Australia, Canberra
  • Mr. H. J. O. R. Tunnell, Consul-General, Brisbane, Australia
  • Mr. E. R. Worsnop, Deputy Consul-General, Melbourne
  • Mr. R. M. Publicover, First Secretary (Economic), Canada, Ottawa
  • Mr. M. A. Holding, Consul-General, Canada, Edmonton
  • Mr. R. L. Owen, First Secretary, Cost Rica
  • Mr. R. E. Makepeace, First Secretary (Information and Chancery), Czechoslovakia
  • Mr. C. Dyer, First Secretary (Commercial), Denmark
  • Mr. A. C. S. MacRae, Councellor and Head of Chancery, Paris, France
  • Mr. J. C. Kay, Councellor (Commercial), Paris, France
  • Mr. P. W. Ford, First Secretary, Paris, France
  • Mr. W. Innes Rae, MBE, First Secretary (Commercial), Paris, France
  • Mr. D. A. S. Gladstone, Consul-General (also Consul-General for Principality of Monaco), Marseilles, France
  • Mr. R. F. Sharp, Consul, Munich, Federal Republic of Germany
  • Mr. J. C. Radcliffe, MVO, Consul (Commercial) Stuttgart, Federal Republic of Germany
  • Mr. D. T. Handley, First Secretary, Guatemala
  • Mr. J. A. Fortescue, Counsellor and Head of Chancery, Hungary
  • Mr. A. C. Goodison, CMG, CVO, Ambassador, Irish Republic
  • Mr. A. R. Grimes, First Secretary, Israel
  • Mr. R. N. Culshaw, MVO, First Secretary, Italy
  • Mr. C. J. Holden, First Secretary, Kenya
  • Mr. G. P. Lockton, MBE, First Secretary, Head of Chancery and Consul Luxembourg
  • Mr. A. J. H. Ramsay, Councellor and Head of Chancery, Mexico
  • Mr. I. L. Blackley, First Secretary (Agriculture), Netherlands
  • Mr. J. C. Harrison, MVO, Counsellor and Head of Chancery, Nigeria
  • Mr. P. V. Wallis, First Secretary, Nigeria
  • Mr. P. McKearney, CMG, Ambassador, Romania
  • Mr. B. C. Seddon, First Secretary (Commercial), Romania
  • Mr. B. E. Stewart, First Secretary and Head of Chancery, Singapore
  • Mr. C. T. Brant, CMG, CVO, Consul-General and Director of Trade promotion, Johannesburg, South Africa
  • Mr. M. D. K. Halsey, First Secretary, Switzerland, Berne
  • Mr. J. M. Brown, Consul-General, Switzerland, Geneva
  • Mr. A. F. Green, Counsellor, Washington, United States
  • Mr. A. F. Goulty, First Secretary, Washington, United States
  • Mr. D. J. Plumbly, First Secretary, Washington
  • Mr. T. P. Hollaway, First Secretary, Washington
  • Mr. M. J. S. Allen, First Secretary (Economic and Commercial) Yugoslavia
  • Mr. S. Muir, First Secretary, Zambia
  • Sir John Thompson, KCMG, United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York
  • The Hon. D. A. Gore-Booth, Counsellor and Head of Chancery, United Nations, New York
  • Sir John Graham, Bt, KCMG, United Kingdom Permanent Representative on the North Atlantic Council
  • Mr. K. J. Passmore, First Secretary, United Kingdom Delegation to the OECD in Paris
  • Mr. J. A. Shepherd, Counsellor and Head of Chancery, Office of the United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the European Community
  • Mr. J. M. Edes, CMG, Head of Delegations to the CDE
  • Mr. J. M. A. Herdman, MVO, Deputy Governor of Bermuda

Mr. Latham

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many persons currently serving in his Department in the United Kingdom with the equivalent rank of first secretary or above underwent a full-time Arabic language course at the former Middle East Centre for Arab Studies at Shemlan, Lebanon.

Mr. Whitney

Forty-eight. Four other officers are on loan or secondment, three are on career development attachments, and five are between overseas postings.

Back to