HC Deb 09 November 2001 vol 374 cc486-7W
Mr. Wyatt

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Ministers from his Department have visited San Francisco since May 1997; and how many have stayed at the consul general's house. [13526]

Mr. MacShane

Our records show that there have been no FCO ministerial visits to San Francisco since May 1997.

Mr. Wyatt

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the Permanent Under-Secretary of his Department has visited San Francisco since his appointment. [13532]

Mr. MacShane

Sir John Kerr has not visited San Francisco as Permanent Under-Secretary, but of course did so when Ambassador to the United States.

Mr. Wyatt

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many serving Prime Ministers have visited San Francisco since 1979. [13527]

Mr. MacShane

Since 1979, there have been no prime ministerial visits to San Francisco.

Mr. Wyatt:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations he has undertaken with (a) the local chamber of commerce and (b) other business organisations in San Francisco with respect to the impact of the sale of the consul general's house there. [13529]

Mr. MacShane

Issues relating to the sale of the current house have been covered in correspondence this year between FCO Ministers and officials with the British American Chamber of Commerce, Northern California, which represent many British business organisations in the San Francisco area.

Mr. Wyatt

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to sell the consul general's house in San Francisco. [13525]

Mr. MacShane

The consul general, in conjunction with Estates Strategy Unit at the FCO, is seeking alternative property opportunities that will not only provide better value for money than the present house, but will also fully support the wider, especially commercial, objectives of the consulate general.

Mr. Wyatt

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has consulted the DTI on the forthcoming sale of the consul general's house in San Francisco. [13530]

Mr. MacShane

Yes.

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