§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what key jobs in consular services(a) are vacant and (b) have been unfilled for more than three months in the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the reasons for difficulties in filling key jobs. [187397]
§ Mr. MullinThere are no key consular jobs unfilled in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's (FCO) Consular Directorate at the present time. To provide information on possible vacant consular jobs overseas could be provided only at disproportionate costs. However, the FCO's Human Resources Directorate endeavours to ensure that UK-based consular officer replacements arrive to coincide with UK-based departures from posts overseas. When this is not possible it is Consular and Human Resources Directorates' policy to ensure that temporary cover is provided during the interim period. We also endeavour to provide temporary cover for key locally engaged consular slots.
During a consular emergency overseas Rapid Deployment Teams are sent out to assist the post(s) concerned. The most recent deployment was to Salzburg following a serious coach crash in August.