THE FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Sir PATRICK WRIGHT, KCMG, Mr D BLATHERWICK, OBE, Mr D Moss, CMG, Miss C Pestell, CMG, Mr G Griffiths and Mr AR PAUL
3 May 1989]
[Mr Wells Conid]
saying that the new accommodation that is being constructed for junior staff in the compound of the residence and the office in Luanda has made a dramatic impact on the moral and general happi- ness and motivation of the staff, so this is some- thing to which we pay a lot of attention.
33. You have done it in Addis Ababa too, have you not?
(Sir Patrick Wright) I am sorry, I am unsighted on Addis Ababa, I do not know. Perhaps Mr Moss
can comment.
(Mr Moss) Yes, there has been construction there, but I am not sure whether the emphasis was just on junior staff housing.
134. No, but it had the same effect.
(Sir Patrick Wright) Good, I am very glad to hear that.
135. What is the aim of the Tokyo flats scheme? (Sir Patrick Wright) The overall aim is to make the maximum use of an extremely valuable prop- erty. The conclusion was drawn that we had space that could be used for staff accommodation without detriment to the residence, which as you know is in the same area. That is for a mixture of staff accommodation. The proposal is to build 23 staff flats. It is part of a rationalisation programme to make the best use of a very valuable property.
136. Are there any new residences planned? (Sir Patrick Wright) Yes, we are planning a new residence in Quito, Ecuador. This is for security reasons. The present residence is absolutely bang next to the entrance to the university and in the regular path of demonstrations and riots. Apart from that I think there are no other plans.
Mr Joplin
137. I thought you were building a new resi- dence in Jakarta?
(Sir Patrick Wright) We are hoping to move the residence in Jakarta. As I think members of the Committee may know, the residence in Jakarta is a lovely house but it is very inconveniently situated some considerable way out of the centre of town. With the increase in traffic in Jakarta it has become very inconvenient indeed for the ambassador driv- ing backwards and forwards and for his guests to the residence. We are hoping to select another resi- dence. We have not taken a decision as to whether to build or to buy. We have looked at a number of options but have not yet been able to come up with a firm decision.
(Mr Moss) There is no firm decision, but we have been very actively searching for an alternative building or for a building lot in Jakarta. May I just add that, although it is not a new project, we have just completed a new residence in Kuala Lumpur. The high commissioner has just moved in.
138. Is there anything in this year's budget to deal with that?
(Mr Moss) If we can find the right property or
55
[Continued
the right building plot we have set aside sufficient funding in this year's budget to pay for it.
139. How much?
(Mr Moss) I think I should like notice of that question and should prefer to answer in writing if that is acceptable to the Committee? Chairman: If you would please.
Mr Wells
140. How far are you influenced in the specify- ing of these new buildings by the carping and un- informed remarks of the public Accounts Committee?
(Sir Patrick Wright) The size of the property overseas is set by Treasury space standards and these set down the meterage or cubic footage required for different grades in the service for accommodation overseas.
Mr Taylor
141. You will not make the same errors that you made in Riyadh, will you?
(Sir Patrick Wright) We hope always to learn from our experience.
Mr Taylor: I know that you are familiar with that one.
Mr Wells: But does the Treasury learn from your experience and does the Public Accounts Com. mittee?
Chairman
142. I think you are leading Sir Patrick into making comments.
(Sir Patrick Wright) I do not think I can answer that.
Mr Wells
143. The Riyadh residence is obviously far too small. It is designed in accordance with the stan- dards which you say you are bound by in the Treasury and so on. I am asking, are you objecting to these standards and are you getting them changed? If you are not objecting that is one ques- tion. If you are not getting them changed that is another. Can we help you is a third question.
(Sir Patrick Wright) Thank you very much, par- ticularly for the third. When we build we are obliged to keep to Treasury standards. If there are particular circumstances why Treasury standards seem to be inapplicable in a particular post it is open to us to argue the toss with the Treasury in the hope that we can get an extension of those standards. When we rent or buy we are sometimes able to interpret the standards fairly liberally if there are special climatic conditions or other cir- cumstances. For instance, I believe that in North America where most houses have a useable basement we are not required to include that in the overall space rooms as applied by the Treasury because I suspect given the size of some basements that I have seen in North Amreica that it would leave no space for the rest of the house.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.