§ Mr. Bernie GrantTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what is the 601W difference in annual pay between locally engaged staff of the same grade, in Her Majesty's embassy in the United States of America and the high commission in Guyana ; and how the salaries are arrived at;
(2) what is the difference in annual pay between locally engaged staff of the same grade, in Her Majesty's United States of America embassy and the high commission in India; and how the salaries are arrived at;
(3) what is the difference in annual pay between locally engaged staff of the same grade, in Her Majesty's embassy in the United States of America and in Ethiopia ; how the salaries are arrived at ;
(4) what is the difference in annual pay between locally engaged staff of the same grade employed by Her Majesty's embassies in the United States of America and Somalia ; how the salaries are arrived at ;
(5) what is the difference in annual salary between locally engaged staff of the same grade employed by Her Majesty's embassy in the United States of America and the high commission in Australia ; and how the salaries are arrived at ;
(6) what is the difference in annual salary between locally engaged staff of the same grade employed by Her Majesty's embassies in the United States of America and Sweden; and how the salaries are arrived at;
(7) what is the difference in annual salary between locally engaged staff of the same grade employed by Her Majesty's embassies in the United States of America and Brazil; and how the salaries are arrived at.
§ Mr. EggarWe operate a standard policy for setting salaries and conditions of service for locally-engaged staff at all British diplomatic missions overseas. Their terms of employment are set on the basis of comparison with jobs of similar responsibility among a range of selected local employers. Suitable employers for this purpose are chosen from the host Government, other diplomatic missions (including American embassies), international and local companies. Salaries and conditions are reviewed annually in London, or more often if they are subject to high inflation.
By basing salaries and conditions of service on local practice we ensure that we pay the market rate for the job. It would not be realistic to pay locally-engaged staff standard rates throughout the world because these would inevitably bear no relation to the cost of living in the country concerned or to the market rate for the job.
Not all of Her Majesty's embassies and high commissions listed in the hon. Member's questions employ staff in the same range of grades. The table shows, therefore, the range of grades represented in each mission, their rates of pay, and the equivalent rates for the same range of grades paid at Her Majesty's British embassy in Washington.
602W
Local Salary Equivalent salary at British embassy Washington Country Range of grades Maximum Minimum Maximum Minimum Guyana III-Vc 1,892 527 13,739 5,277 India I-Vc 4,465 726 26,222 5,277 Ethiopia I-Vb 7,522 808 26,222 6,086 Somalia II-Vc 2,789 284 16,789 5,277 Australia I-Vb 12,935 7,808 26,222 6,086 Sweden I(S)-Vc 16,379 6,257 30,700 5,277 Brazil I-Vc 9,896 1,228 26,222 5,277 All salaries are shown gross before tax, and are exclusive of any allowances (e.g. family, rent etc.). They are expressed in sterling converted at the latest available exchange rate, but they are paid locally in local currency.