To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans there are to sell the San Francisco Consulate's residence; and if he will make a statement. [98125]

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 25 November 2002 (Official Report, column 79W). Officials will visit San Francisco again in March to assess the market and survey possible properties for purchase.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many ambassadorial and consular offices and houses have been sold since 1997; and where these were. [98126]

In the financial years from 1996–97 to 2002–03 the FCO has sold seven overseas offices, 13 head of mission/post residences, one combined office/residence and 222 staff houses and flats, as follows:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much his Department spent on maintaining embassies and consulates in (a) EU countries and (b) the USA in the last 12 months. [98127]

In financial year 2001/2002 the cost of maintaining the FCO's accommodation in European Union countries and the USA was £4,107,918 and £1,850,847 respectively.