To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the proposed new consular residence in Presidio Terrace, San Francisco, is governed by restrictions that will prevent its use for consular functions; and if he will make a statement. [118725]

It will be possible to use the new residence for normal consular functions.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 9 June 2003, Official Report, column 647W, when the present Permanent Under-Secretary visited the property; whether the PUS-designate visited the current Consul General's house; and when he visited the new property. [120326]

The present PUS, Sir Michael Jay, was able to see the house when he visited San Francisco, shortly before taking up his appointment in January 2002. He has not visited the new property.The previous PUS, Sir John Kerr, to whom I also referred in my answer on 9 June 2003, had previously been Her Majesty's Ambassador in Washington and was familiar with the current property.