HC Deb 25 October 1999 vol 336 cc732-3W
Mr. Mackinlay

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which cities of(a) the EU and (b) applicant countries for EU membership his Department uses honorary British consuls. [94613]

Mr. Hain

Honorary British Consuls are situated in EU member states in:

  • France: Biarritz, Calais, Perpignan. Nates, Toulouse, Amiens, Boulogne-sur-Mer, Dunkirk, Nice, Montpellier,Cherbourg, St Malo-Dinard, Saumur.
  • Germany: Bremen, Nurenberg, Hanover, Kiel.
  • Belgium: Antwerp, Liege.
  • Italy: Genoa, Venice, Bari, Cagliari, Turin, Trieste, Catania, Messina, Brindisi, Palermo.
  • Spain: Vig, Santander, Menorca.
  • Finland: Jyvaskyla, Kotka, Kuopio, Aland Islands, Oulu, Pori, Tampere, Turku, Vaasa.
  • Austria: Bregenz, Salzburg, Graz.
  • Sweden: Gothenburg, Sundsvall, Malmo.
  • Portugal: Portimao.
  • Greece: Kos, Patras, Rhodes, Salonika, Syros, Zakynthos.

Honorary British Consuls are situated in EU applicant countries in:

  • Poland: Kotowice, Poznan, Gdansk, Szczecin, Wroclaw.
  • Hungary: Pecs.
  • Rumania: Constanta.
  • Bulgaria: Varna.
  • Turkey: Antalya, Bodrum, Iskenderun, Izmir, Marmaris, Mersin.

Mr. Mackinlay

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many honorary British consuls there are world-wide; and if he will make a statement. [94611]

Mr. Hain

At present there are 248 Honorary British Consuls world-wide. They are prominent members of their local communities, who undertake their role in a voluntary capacity. They provide support and advice to the head of the British diplomatic mission in the host country, and act as a first port of call for British nationals in their district in need of consular assistance. Our Honorary Consuls constitute an important resource for the delivery of our consular services world-wide.

Mr. Mackinlay

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will issue a minimum of two flags to each honorary British consul to facilitate their cleaning; and if he will ensure their regular replacement consistent with maintaining them in good condition. [94612]

Mr. Hain

Honorary British Consuls are issued with a set of Union flags sufficient for the Consuls' needs, including spares. Guidance is also provided on the flying of the flags, and on how to requisition replacements. But if my hon. Friend has a particular post or problem in mind, I would be happy to respond to his concern.

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