Written question asked by James Gray (Conservative) on Monday, 5 December 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 8 December 2005. It was answered by Ian Pearson (Labour) on Thursday, 8 December 2005 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Diplomatic Residency (Cape Town)

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) for what reasons the head of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office property management team and a consultant interior designer recently visited the high commissioner's residency in Cape Town; and at whose request the visit was made;

Answer: The Head of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Property Management team has not visited Cape Town.The FCO has a rolling visit programme to review the interiors and furnishings of certain residences. The visit of an interior designer to Cape Town was part of this programme. A senior member of Estates Directorate visiting South Africa on other business took the opportunity to accompany them.The Cape Town residence last had a major refurbishment in financial year 2000–01.The high commissioner, the right hon. Paul Boateng and his wife, reside both in his residence in Pretoria and in his residence in Cape Town.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 35717; 440 c1556-7W;440 c1556-7W
Session: 2005-06
Subjects: Diplomatic service South Africa Official residences Interior design Cape Town
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk