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Written question asked by Lord Berkeley (Labour), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Triesman (Labour) on Monday, 24 October 2005.

Consulate General: Hamburg

Question
What representations they have received from interests in Germany and the United Kingdom regarding their proposals to close the British Consulate in Hamburg; and what alternative arrangements are proposed for consular and trade activities if this closure takes place.
Answer

My right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary received and considered representations from the Mayor of Hamburg as well as letters from interested organisations and individuals about the proposed closure of Her Majesty’s Consulate-General in Hamburg. This proposal was part of wider changes to our overseas network of diplomatic missions as a response to changing priorities announced by my right honourable friend the Foreign Secretary in another place on 15 December 2004 (Official Report, Commons, cols. WS 137-40). The decision since taken to close the Consulate-General in Hamburg by the end of 2006, announced by my right honourable friend in another place on October 11 (Official Report, Commons, cols. WS 22-23) was not an easy one: British links with Hamburg are old and strong.As my noble friend is no doubt aware, our links with Hamburg are many and varied. They will continue under our alternative arrangements for representation in Germany. As part of this, we hope to appoint the deputy ambassador in Berlin as non-resident Consul-General to Hamburg to ensure that those links continue to flourish. And there will of course be honorary consuls in Hamburg and elsewhere in the Consulate-General’s district to help. Consular responsibilities for this district will be covered from our embassy in Berlin.Services for British exporters to Germany and for German investors in the UK are provided in Germany by UK Trade and Investment (UKTI). The closure of Hamburg is part of a significant restructuring of the UKTI team in Germany. UKTI staff will be based in Dusseldorf, Munich and Berlin. All staff have Germany-wide responsibilities. Coverage of Hamburg will remain in line with customer demand.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
1610; 674 c151-2WA
Session
2005-06
Related items
Overseas Network
Tuesday, 11 October 2005
Written statements
House of Commons
Subjects
Closures Diplomatic service Germany Embassies Trade promotion
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk