Select Committee on Foreign Affairs Minutes of Evidence


Supplementary memorandum from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

FCO ANNUAL REPORT EVIDENCE SESSION

  1.  When Michael Jay gave evidence to the Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday 16 July, he said that he would write to the Committee about various issues which arose during the session.

The inclusion of Lima and Colombo in the list of Top 20 Posts by Spend in Financial Year 2001-2002

  3.  There is considerable stability in the rankings of spending at our largest Posts. The 12 largest spending Posts in 2001-02 were similarly ranked in 1999-00, with only minor variations (see enclosed table)[17].

  4.  There is a large group of medium expenditure Posts below the top 12 where spending differentials are compressed. Small differences in activity levels (eg Seoul's preparation for the World Cup), local inflation rates, and exchange rate movements can therefore have a significant effect on a Post's ranking, as, for example, with Lagos and Geneva in 2001-2.

  5.  A third group of Posts are affected by large spending developments specific to them, often related to the Estate. Spending in Dublin in 2000-01 was unusually high because the FCO bought a new Residence as part of our asset recycling programme. New offices were purchased in Caracas in 2000-01. A new embassy building was purchased in Lima in 2001-02. And in Colombo, a site was purchased in 2001-02 on which a new High Commission building will be built. Without these exceptional items of significant capital expenditure, neither Lima nor Colombo would have been in the top 20.

Travel advice to backpackers

  6.  The FCO website contains travel advice information for backpackers. This is enclosed and can be found at http://www.fco.gov.uk. I also enclose information about the Backpackers & Independent Travellers mini-campaign, launched in November 2001[18]. This was part of our continuing "Know Before You Go" information campaign. The aim of the campaign, which is now managed by Biss Lancaster, is to ensure that travellers prepare themselves better before they go overseas, for example by checking FCO travel advice and taking out travel insurance.

  7.  The Backpackers mini-campaign was managed by AEA Technology with help from partners in the travel industry such as Rough Guides, STA, Tourism Concern, Bridge The World, Year Out Group, USIT Campus and Gapyear.com. FCO officials took part in a radio day to publicise the campaign, and survival expert Ray Mears also gave interviews on behalf of the campaign.

  8.  We have also improved the travel area of the FCO website by adding revised checklists for backpackers and independent travellers. We have added checklists for women travellers, updated pages on insurance and health, added information on mobile phones and the Euro, increased the number of "Frequently Asked Questions" and expanded the number of links to other organisations, such as to the Suzy Lamplugh Trust which promotes safe travel abroad for young people.

The e-Services page on the FCO website

  9.  The new FCO web platform was launched on 16 May to replace the outdated technology of the FCO's award-winning website. The new Internet infrastructure will allow multiple authors across the FCO at home and overseas to launch and maintain different websites using the same architecture and Content Management System. So far we have launched the new UKVisas site, the FCO main site and 19 kiosk websites. We are about to launch the new i-uk.com portal site and, following training, the first 10 Posts' sites. More sites will follow. This is an ambitious programme.

  10.  As with all major Internet projects, there have been teething problems. These were due mainly to the unreliability of the firewalls, which were replaced at the end of last week. The e-Services top-level page of the website became unavailable on 2 July. It was immediately logged as such with the Logica support desk, although they could not immediately determine the nature of the problem. On 12 July, they discovered the bug and the e-Services page was restored after 10 days. The absence of the page could have been confusing but did not prevent us from offering any of our normal services. The rest of the site was working well. The e-Services area is principally there in preparation for future services, such as online interactive application forms and public fora.

How the FCO's forced marriage assistance figures relate to the estimated overall figure of those affected, and details of relevant research

  11.  Since the publication of the FCO Departmental Report 2002, Consular Division's Community Liaison Unit has seen an increase in its forced marriage caseload. We have dealt with approximately 250 cases in the past year. This rise can be attributed in part to an effective public diplomacy campaign, which has raised awareness of the problem and of what the FCO can do to help. We have distributed tens of thousands of our advice leaflets; made available a video on marriage and freedom of choice for schools and youth groups (endorsed by the Department for Education and Skills); held national and regional conferences for police officers and relevant interest groups; held a national conference for Social Services (supported by the Department of Health and attended by the Chair of the Commission for Racial Equality); and attended and delivered regional presentations to communities (on average we attend two such events per month) in, among other places, Edinburgh, Wakefield, Manchester, Luton, Aylesbury, Southampton and Swansea.

  12.  But despite this increased awareness, we are conscious that we deal with only a fraction of the total number of cases. As with domestic violence and child abuse, the nature of the problem of forced marriage makes it extremely difficult to quantify; in many cases victims will never speak out. We know that the police in West Yorkshire alone deal with around 200 cases per year, and that NGOs working in this area deal with a similar number (although many of these will already be accounted for in our statistics). Some media reports have suggested that there are over 1000 cases per year in the UK. We fear that the true number may be even higher. In working with the police, social services and other agencies, we have stressed the need to keep statistics to enable us better to understand the extent of the problem.

  13.  As well as working with relevant governmental and non-governmental organisations, we have commissioned formal research into the problem of forced marriage. Professors Yunas Samad and John Eade of the Universities of Bradford and Roehampton respectively have just submitted to us a paper which investigates community perceptions of forced marriage. The research involved focus groups composed of members of the Pakistani community in Bradford and the Bangladeshi community in Tower Hamlets. The paper provides evidence which backs up our experience, while also giving us new insights. It will be on the FCO website by the end of the Summer. We have also commissioned Interights, the Centre for the International Legal Protection of Human Rights, to conduct research into the law governing issues surrounding forced marriage in the most affected countries. This, too, should be completed by the end of the Summer. We have also done our own preliminary research into the international aspects of recognition of marriage and divorce, better to inform our case workers.

  14.  Other recent achievements include:

    —  Completion of a one-year project to compile best practice guidelines for police officers dealing with cases of forced marriage. Over 300 organisations were consulted in a series of regional events. The guidelines were launched in May by Baroness Amos, Angela Eagle, Minister of State at the Home Office, and Assistant Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe of the Association of Chief Police Officers.

    —  Launch of a one-year project to compile best practice guidelines for social workers dealing with cases of forced marriage.

    —  Compilation of a case database to allow us to maintain accurate statistics.

    —  Development of working partnerships with lawyers and NGOs at our most affected posts.

  15.  We are particularly proud of our work on forced marriage. It is an example of the FCO responding to the particular needs of ethnic minorities. Speaking at the launch of our social services project, the Chair of the Commission for Racial Equality, Gurbux Singh, praised us for tackling the issue confidently yet sensitively. Some of our EU partners intend to emulate our innovative and pro-active approach. We hope to improve both European and cross-governmental co-operation in this field in the coming year.

FCO liaison with the Home Office over visa cases relating to applications for indefinite leave to remain in the UK

  16.  The Home Office contacts Posts abroad to obtain information in certain cases. Separately, the FCO's Consular Division is involved with some visa cases involving forced marriage, for example when we are contacted by victims of forced marriage in the UK who do not wish their spouses to be granted indefinite leave to remain. We refer such queries to the Immigration and Nationality Directorate at the Home Office for advice.

FCO Corporate Sponsorship and VIP Suite Transport

  17.  The Committee asked about VIP Suite transport. The contract with Lexus provides the FCO with five cars (two saloons and three four-wheel drive vehicles). The fleet at Heathrow consists of two of the saloons and two of the four-wheel drives as well as a separately-supplied long-loan Vauxhall vehicle. The fleet at Heathrow ferries VIPs between the VIP suites and the planes on the tarmac on arrival and departure. The third four-wheel drive vehicle is used at Gatwick and operates in a similar way to the vehicles at Heathrow, but is also used on occasion to take VIPs in transit and awaiting onward flights to local hotels. I enclose more detailed information about this[19] and the other corporate sponsorship agreements listed on page 144 of the Annual Report.

  18.  The FCO's corporate sponsorship guidance to staff, most recently reviewed in April 2002, has at its core the need for propriety. It is based on the Cabinet Office "Guidance to Departments on Sponsorship of Government Activities", last issued in July 2000. I enclose a copy of the FCO guidance.[20]

Financial regulation in Gibraltar

  19.  Financial regulation in Gibraltar is recognised to be of a high standard. The Financial Action Task Force and the International Monetary Fund carried out inspections of Gibraltar's anti money laundering and general supervisory regimes respectively, in 2001. The report on the FATF inspection has not yet been published. We are pleased that the IMF report, published on 19 March 2002, recognised the progress made by the Financial Services Commission (FSC), which is appointed by the Governor, in the regulation and supervision of Gibraltar's developing financial services industry. The Government welcomed the FSC commitment to take action on the recommendations and, where changes to legislation are required, the Government of Gibraltar's acceptance of the recommendations. We are confident that, with these commitments, the Finance Centre is well placed to adapt to the changing international environment and can continue to prosper.

  20.  We remain in contact with the Gibraltar Government on the broader issue of economic statistics. Following representations by the Foreign Secretary, Gibraltar recently published its first abstract of statistics for five years.

Employment protection for expatriate local staff

  21.  The FCO's long-standing position is that our Missions overseas employ their local staff on the basis of the law of the country in which they operate. That is consistent with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which requires Missions to respect and comply with local law.

  22.  It is possible that a member, or ex-member, of our local staff may assume that there is no point in bringing a case in a local court or tribunal because our Mission would automatically enjoy State immunity. That is not so, as FCO policy is to waive immunity if it would prevent access to redress.

  23.  In the specific case to which Mr Illsley referred, in St Petersburg, it may be that Russian law or practice prevents the ex-member of local staff from obtaining a hearing in local court.

  24.  UK employment tribunals have up to now ruled that matters relating to the employment of our local staff are outside their jurisdiction, because we recruit and employ local staff outside the UK, and do not send them overseas from here. There is, however, to be a hearing later this year by the President of the Employment Appeal Tribunal to consider whether a tribunal should have jurisdiction to hear such a case (Bryant v FCO, brought by Mrs Bryant, former member of the local staff in Rome).

  25.  Where a member of local staff has a grievance, Post management deal with it, with escalation up the chain in the Post (and if it is a subordinate Post, that of the superintending Post) as necessary. There is no formal channel of appeal back to London. But in practice local staff (or former local staff) do contact the FCO, including at the highest levels. Local Staff Management Unit in Personnel Command are responsible for ensuring that Post management have handled the matter properly.

Romanian Steel and Lakshmi Mittal

  26.  I enclose the telegram which Michael Jay issued on 18 February 2002. I should be grateful if you would respect the security classification of the telegram in your handling of it. No further guidance has yet been issued[21].

Human Rights advisers overseas

  27.  The FCO has a total of five advisers at posts—Manila (appointed in 1998), Kathmandu (2001), Caracas (2002), Kuala Lumpur (2202) and Kiev (2001)—and two in London (since 1998). We are currently recruiting for three further posts in Africa and may bring a fourth, in Latin America/the Caribbean, on stream later this year. We make all overseas appointments in response to requests from posts.

  28.  All human rights advisers share the same broad goal: to promote the observance of human rights and bring fresh thinking and expertise to FCO human rights policy. All have experience of human rights work, usually with NGOs. Their roles depend on the circumstances. In Manila, for example, the adviser has worked with government, business and civil society to promote child rights. In Nepal, the adviser is mainly concerned with human rights in conflict, and is working closely with the local DFID representation. And in Kuala Lumpur, an officer is working at the Malaysian Bar Association to help to develop its human rights capacity. This flexibility maximises the impact of our advisers. The advisers in London act as the hub of the network of overseas advisers and also provide advice to the FCOs Human Rights Policy Department, eg on mainstreaming human rights in foreign policy, rule of law and combating torture worldwide.

  29.  The programme has been a resounding success in Manila, where the President has praised the positive impact of the adviser's work on the children, on those who deal with them, and in raising the profile of human rights in the Philippines and in Embassy work. Other advisers have been in post less than a year, but the signs are that their work will be similarly successful. Each adviser can draw on £50,000-£75,000 of the FCOs Human Rights Project Fund to support projects.

  30.  The FCO will include more information on the role and impact of human rights advisers in its Annual Human Rights Report, due out in September 2002.

Co-location

  31.  At the evidence session, Michael Jay referred to the office which we are opening in the French Embassy compound in Niamey, Niger. It will be staffed one week a month by an officer travelling from the British Embassy in Abidjan. Cover for the rest of the month will be provided by a locally engaged officer. This will enable us to have a cost-effective presence in a country of more than 10 million people which, while the second least-developed country in the world, is now a good example of democracy and governance in West Africa. Reciprocally, our High Commission in Freetown has made space available to accommodate a French diplomat.

  32.  This is one of a number of innovative co-location projects through which the FCO provides flexible, value for money representation abroad. For instance, the US have agreed that we can base an officer full-time for one year in the US Embassy in Monrovia, Liberia. The officer will report to the British Embassy in Abidjan. A presence in Liberia, will enable us to expand our knowledge of developments and civil society, which is particularly important since conflict in Liberia could destabilise Sierra Leone.

  33.  As the Committee will know, the FCO and DfID are also constructing a new Embassy building in Dar es Salaam in conjunction with Germany, the Netherlands and the EU Commission.

  34.  In addition to co-location with other partners, we also seek, wherever possible, to co-locate our operations with those of the British Council, and other organisations such as the British Tourist Authority, to provide a one-stop shop for those interested in the United Kingdom. But in practice it is sometimes difficult to combine conflicting interests such as Embassy security with the wide public assess required for British Council teaching activities.

  35.  I enclose a full list of current co-location projects and proposals[22].

Employee Opinion Survey

  Michael Jay thought the Committee would also welcome information on the FCOs third and most recent Employee Opinion Survey. The earlier surveys were held in 1999 and 1997. Our response rate held up at 55 per cent, considered to be good from such a geographically disparate organisation. The full results of the survey—including the results broken down by Command and by various demographic groupings—have been placed on the FCO Intranet and we distributed a summary of results to every member of staff. The FCO Board discussed the results, and we are now finalising an action plan, based on more detailed analysis, which will be put on the Intranet shortly.

  On the whole the results were encouraging, with, for example, 80 per cent of respondents proud to work for the FCO (some 20 per cent more than the Central Government benchmark) and a 14 per cent increase in the number of staff who believe that the FCO values people management. But the Board was concerned by some key findings. Staff in the FCO continue to be unhappy with their pay—only 19 per cent believe it is fair, against a Central Government benchmark of 34 per cent. And it is disappointing that, despite the emphasis we have put on efforts to cut down on long hours, the average hours worked have not come down. We are continuing to work on this, and are piloting compressed working (eg doing 10 days worth of work over nine days and taking the tenth day off) in frontline Departments, as one of a number of flexible working initiatives.

Ways in which UK Diplomacy has made a difference

  Lastly, you and the Committee may be interested to read the Foreign Secretary's list of recent ways in which UK Diplomacy has made a difference. It can be found on the FCO website under "Mission Statement" at http://www.fco.gov.uk. I enclose a copy[23].

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

July 2002


POSTS: RANKED BY SPENDING, 1999-2001

Post
1999-2000
2000-2001
2001-2002
Washington
1
1
1
Brussels
3
4
2
New York
6
5
3
Tokyo
2
2
4
Paris
4
6
5
Berlin
5
3
6
Hong Kong
7
7
7
Peking
11
9
8
New Delhi
9
12
9
Moscow
10
10
10
Madrid
8
11
11
Rome
13
15
12
Lima
  
  
13
Lagos
16
17
14
Colombo
  
15
Warsaw
19
  
16
Seoul
  
  
17
Buenos Aires
  
13
18
Geneva
15
19
19
Athens
  
  
20
Dublin
  
8
  
Caracas
  
14
  
Islamabad
18
16
  
Ottawa
12
18
  
Istanbul
  
16
  
Bonn
14
  
  
Vienna
17
  
  
Budapest
20
  
  


FCO Corporate Sponsorship Details 2001-02

Project
Sponsor
Sponsorship Value
Information Kiosk
Logica
£350,000


  Benefit to the FCO

    —  Reduced price of support Logica provides to the Information Kiosk Project.

  Benefit to Logica

    —  Logica can publicly acknowledge its role in supplying and supporting the project.

    —  Logica can issue press releases referring to their involvement in the project provided they are cleared first with the FCO.

    —  Logica may use the websites it delivers as a reference.

    —  Within the portal site and various FCO sites Logica will cause to appear in a discreet manner a brief reference to Logica's involvement in the project, using the words, "Powered by Logica" the Logica logo and provision of a link. [The letter of agreement states that Logica do not intend to take up valuable space for the link, and the project team do not expect the site to materially change to accommodate the "Powered by Logical" reference.

Project
Sponsor
Sponsorship Value
Consular Publicity
Columbus Direct
£35,000


  Benefit to the FCO

    —  Sponsorship of the "Checklist for Travellers" leaflet.

  Benefit to Columbus Direct

    —  Small advertisement by Columbus Direct on the back of leaflet, and a statement below it by the FCO acknowledging Columbus Direct's support in producing the leaflet.

Project
Sponsor
Sponsorship Value
VIP Suite Transport
Lexus (GB) Ltd
£25,000


  Benefit to the FCO

    —  The loan of two LS series limousines and three RX3000 4x4 vehicles

    —  The provision of car user handbooks for the above vehicles

    —  The major periodic services and the replacement of tyres of the above vehicles

    —  The delivery and collection of the above vehicles

    —  The provision of the Road Fund Licence for the above vehicles

  Benefit to Lexus (GB) Ltd

  VIP Facility Access Rights

    —  The Chairman of Toyota Motor Corporation, if visiting or transiting UK

  Rights of Association

    —  Official Supplier of Vehicles to the British Government's VIP Suites at London's Heathrow and Gatwick Airports.

    —  Use of approved still photographs for advertising purposes,

    —  Promotional literature supplied by Sponsor to be circulated in VIP Suites and in vehicles.

Project
Sponsor
Sponsorship Value
Hajj Delegation
British Airways
£10,000
Noon Products
£10,000


  Benefit to the FCO

    —  Sponsorship of the "Advice to British Hajjis" leaflet.

  Benefit to British Airways

    —  On the back of the leaflet, a statement that the British Hajj Delegation gratefully acknowledges the support of British Airways.

  Benefit to Noon Products

    —  On the front of the leaflet:

        a statement that the leaflet was prepared with the British Muslim Community in association with Noon Products Limited and (its associated company) Bombay Halwa Limited. Their logos are also displayed.

Project
Sponsor
Sponsorship Value
Consular Publicity
Western Union
£9,000


  Benefit to the FCO

    —  Sponsorship of the "Backpackers and Independent Travellers" leaflet.

  Benefit to Western Union

    —  Small advertisement by Western Union on the back of leaflet, and a statement below it by the FCO acknowledging Western Union's support in producing the leaflet.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

July 2002

CO-LOCATION TABLE

1.  WITH EU PARTNERS

  
Participants
Nature of Proposal
Space Required
Current Status
  
Lead
Other
  
  
  
Americas Command
  
  
  
  
  
Asuncion
UK
Belgium
Possible collocation
One Room
The Belgians have expressed an interest in returning to Paraguay. HMA-designate will sound the Belgian Ambassador to Argentina about the provision of a room in our Embassy in Asuncion.
Lima
UK
Germany
Co-located Consular/Visa Office
  
Germans sub-lease part of Consular/Visa Section from us. Sub-lease signed 1 March 1997.
Port au Prince
Canada
UK
Proposal to co-locate
two staff members in Canadian Embassy
One office
and small storeroom
EG wrote to Canadians on
16 November asking if they would consider collocation in current and new Embassy.
Quito
UK
Germany
Purpose-built co-located property with UK and Germany each taking one floor and the third floor (Consular/Visa Section shared)
UK: 500m
  
Germany: 500m
MOU signed 9 July 1999. Building occupied July 1999.
  
 
  
  
Africa Command
  
  
  
  
  
Abuja
EU Commission
Austria;
   
  
  
Germany;
  
  
  
  
  
Greece;
  
  
  
  
  
Ireland;
  
  
  
  
  
Netherlands
  
  
  
  
  
  
EU Project for new build Embassies, UK not participating
  
MOU, to which UK is not a party, agreed. Tenders received and selection made. Work likely to commence November 2001. UK has own site for new BHC and is not participating.
  
  
Banjul
UK
France
Space sharing in British High Commission
  
In line with the commitment at the Cahors Summit in February 2001, we have offered space within our High Commission for use by the French for their new Embassy.
Dar es Salaam
UK
EU
  
  
  
Germany
  
  
  
  
  
Netherlands
Joint development of new Embassy/BHC building on UK site
UK (inc DFID): 842m
  
  
  
Commission: 523m
  
  
  
  
  
Germany: 495m
  
  
  
  
  
Netherlands: 659m
  
  
  
  
  
Common: 656m
  
  
  
  
  
  
Work proceeding on site. Occupation programmed by end of 2002.
  
  
  
  
Freetown
UK
France
Space in BHC for French diplomat
  
  
Gaborone
UK
France
space in BHC for
non-Resident French Ambassador visiting from Lusaka
  
French use one room on occasional basis. Local arrangement.
Maseru
UK
Other EU
Co-located BHC/Embassy in owned BHC building
  
EU Partners informed that we have space available. No current interest.
Asia Command
  
  
  
  
  
Bombay
UK
EU Partners
Co-location with EU Partners
  
We are examining options for alternative office site. There may be scope for involving one or more EU Partners. Business case to DISG in July.
Colombo
UK
EU Partners
Collocation with
EU Partners
  
We are looking to move and are negotiating the purchase of a site which might be large enough to accommodate an EU Partner.
Ho Chi Minh City
UK
Germany
Surplus Space
  
Considering options on use of two floors, including conversion into flats or co-location with British Consul. Germans have expressed an interest and inspected the premises on
28 August 2001. Their formal response is awaited. If they were to co-locate one floor of the offices would still remain vacant.
Pyongyang
Germany
UK
Co-located Embassy
  
The Germans have leased office space and residential accommodation for two years at nil rent in exchange for improvements. We have also recently leased further residential accommodation to include an Ambassador's Residence at nil rent for 10 years again in exchange for further improvements.
Rangoon
UK
EU Partners
Surplus Space
UK: 900m
Germans no longer interested in colocation. We are seeking other expression of interest.
EU Command
  
  
   
  
  
Copenhagen
Germany
UK
Collocated Embassy in new build offices
  
We are developing proposals with the Germans for co-located missions on a shared site.
Mena Command
  
  
  
  
  
Beirut
UK
EU Partners
Collocated Embassies in new build project
  
UK are renting in Solidere. Germans propose to take space next to UK. No input for UK.
Rabat
UK
EU Partners
Possible co-location in new Embassy build
  
Dutch no longer interested in co-locating.
Wider Europe Command
  
  
  
  
  
Almaty
Germany
France, UK
Germans and French jointly lease building. We sub-lease from Germans for British Embassy
  
MOU signed 10 July 1992. Technical Memorandum signed 9 January 1993. Post opened November 1992. In 1999 we took additional space from the Germans to accommodate extra staff and create a Conference Room.
Ashgabat
UK
France, Germany
Embasises co-located in same building
  
UK, France and Germany all lease space within the AK Altin Plaza complex.
Astana
EU
EU Partners
EU missions represented in Almaty operate
(and share the cost of)
a co-located bureau de passage at Okan International Hotel as an interim measure
  
Kazakh Governmant have moved from Almaty to Astana. EU Bureau de Passage established 1 August 1999. Possible opportunity to relocate when we move to Astana.
Minsk
UK
Italy
We sub-lease space in the Karl Marx 37 building to the Italians
  
Sub-lease signed 21 July 1995. MOU signed 31 October 1995. We are outgrowing our (smaller) part of the building and may need to ask the Italians for more space.
Nicosia
UK
Italy
Italians asked if we can make use of our consular facilities in Shakespeare Avenue. We have agreed.
  
  
Skopje
UK
Germany
We are looking to build a new Embassy, possibly with the Germans
  
Project untied from Estate Group. Feasibility study to establish whether the plot is big enough for an
Anglo/German Embassy being concluded. Possible developer deal.
Sofia
UK
EC
Missions co-located in the same building
  
The European Commission lease the floor below us at
9 Moskovska.

 

2.  WITH BRITISH COUNCIL

  Nature of Proposal Comments/Current Status
Americas Command     
CuritibaCo-location British Council sub-lease 48.5m2 of British Consulate under a local agreement.
HavanaCo-locationBritish Council sub-lease 27.1m2 of British Embassy. Licence currently under negotiation.
KingstonCo-location British Council sub-lease 52.33m2 of BHC since 28 October 1998. Licence dated 29 July 1998.
LimaPlanned co-location British Council plan to take 63m2 plus 279m2 of shared space in a new building, due for completion 2002.
OttawaCo-locationBritish Council sub-lease 132.1m2 of BHC since 10 July 1992. Licence dated 14 August 1997.
Port of SpainCo-location British Council sub-lease 47m2 of BHC since 1 April 1998. Licence dated 12 October 1998.
Rio de JaneiroPossible co-location HM Consul—General interested in possible co-location with the Council on expiry of current CG lease in May 2003.
WashingtonSeparate offices British Council sub-lease old Chancery Building since 1 April 1998. Lease expires
31 March 2003.
Africa Command     
AbujaCo-locationBritish Council sub-lease 155.9m2 of BHC under local agreement, but are due to move out shortly into their own purpose-built offices.
GaboroneCo-location British Council sub-lease 265.1m2 of BHC since 21 August 1993 under Licence.
HarareRental of spare space BC to fund installation of PBCL door to protect access through the atrium.
KampalaUse of spare space British Council vacated BHC but wish to use two vacant store rooms. Agreement yet to be reached on cost.
MaputoPossible space in BHC compound DfID are building a new office on our BHC Compound. There could be spare space if the Council are interested, but agreement has yet to be reached on cost.
NairobiPossible development on site next to British High Commission We are trying to buy a plot next to the British High Commission. The British Council might be interested in building on it in 12 months' time.
Port HarcourtShared offices British Council share occupation of ground floors and occasional use of conference room. No formal agreement.
YaoundePossible scope for colocation We are trying to buy a plot on which to build a British High Commission. There might be spare space if the Council are interested.
Asia Pacific Command     
AuklandCo-locationBritish Council sub-lease 39m2 at DHC since 1 April 1999. Licence dated 7 December 1999, expires 31 March 2002.
BangalorePossible co-location Trade Office and British Council are both currently looking for new premises.
Bandar Seri BegawanCo-location British Council sub-lease 34m2 at BHC wef May 2001. Licence currently under negotiation.
Ho Chi Minh CityCo-location British Council sub-lease 145.5m2 at BCG since 10 January 1997 under Licence dated
16 December 1996. The Council are considering taking additional spare space.
Hong KongSeparate offices British Council sub-lease separate building since 16 September 1996 under Licence dated 2 December 1998.
KathmanduCo-located on Embassy Compound British Council own a separate building on the British Embassy Compound. Ground rent Licence currently under negotiation.
Kuala LumpurPossible colocation Proposal currently under discussion.
RangoonCo-locationBritish Council sub-lease 361m2 since 1 April 1996 under Licence dated 10 January 1997. The Council are considering taking additional spare space.
SingaporeCo-located on
BHC Compound
The British Council own a separate building on the BHC Compound, for which they pay a nominal ground rent, which is subject to review.
WellingtonCo-location British Council sub-lease 125m2 at BHC since 1 January 1992. Memorandum of Terms dated 8 December 1992 due to expire
31 December 2003.
Europe Command     
StockholmCo-location British Council sub-lease 31.3m2 at British Embassy since 9 December 1998. Licence dated 11 December 1998 expired 31 July 2001 and is currently under renewal.
Mena Command     
TunisCo-locationBritish Council sub-lease 393.5m2 at British Embassy under Licence.
Wider Europe     
NicosiaCo-locationBritish Council plan to build in grounds of our property in Northern Cyprus.
VallettaCo-location British Council sub-lease 56.8m2 at BHC since 1 July 1998 under Licence dated 6 July 1998. New High Commission being built.
YekaterinburgCo-location British Council sub-lease 63.4m2 at BCG since 1 April 1996. Memorandum of Terms dated 30 April 1996. New Embassy being built.


3.  WITH OTHERS

  Members of the Overseas Property Organisation Conference (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, USA) have been offered surplus space in Gaborone, Ho Chi Minh City, Maseru, Port of Spain and Rangoon.

  Japan—the Chief Clerk and his Japanese counterpart have agreed that it would be worthwhile to consider the possibility of colocating where we are looking for accommodation or have surplus space.

  Abbreviations:

    EC—European Commission

    EU—European Union

    MOU—Memorandum of Understanding

    BHC—British High Commission

    4BCG—British Consulate-General

Estate Strategy Unit FCO

July 2002



17   Ev 85. Back

18   Copies of leaflets and radio interviewers' briefing notes not printed. Back

19   Ev 85-86. Back

20   FCO Sponsorship Guidlines, published by the Purchasing Directorate, FCO, April 2002. Not printed. Back

21   The telegram is not printed. A further note on guidance to Posts is attached, Ev 91. Back

22   Co-location Table, Edition 20. Ev 87-91. Back

23   Not printed. Back


 
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Prepared 14 November 2002