British diplomats in six locations removed from hardship payments list.

British diplomats in six locations around the world, including Buenos Aires and Santiago in South America, will no longer receive hardship payments for working in dangerous cities.

Changes to Risk Assessments

The UK government has removed Santiago, in Chile, Panama City in Panama, Pyongyang in North Korea, Bamako in Mali, and Sarajevo in Bosnia and Herzegovina, from the list of cities considered risky, along with Buenos Aires and Beirut in Lebanon.

The 144 locations still on the list include many trouble spots but also popular holiday destinations such as Bali and Rio De Janeiro, prompting criticism from the Conservatives.

Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake said civil servants receiving extra pay for working in such areas is unfair on the taxpayer.

Hardship payments are meant to compensate staff and families for additional costs and challenges of living overseas in difficult locations.

The Foreign Office has given civil servants extra payments for working in areas with high levels of danger or risk to health since 1993.

The allowance covers factors such as security measures, climate, natural disasters, isolation, and other impacts on quality of life.

Amounts are not routinely published but in 2009, the highest payments for civil servants and their spouses were for postings to Karachi, Pakistan, worth an extra £26,647, or £14,804 in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria.

The hardship payment for being posted as part of a couple to Buenos Aires was £1,517 and Santiago was £777, according to the 2009 Diplomatic Services Allowances.

Foreign Office minister Lord Wood of Anfield said assessments of hardship take into account factors that mean members of staff are required to take additional breaks for the benefit of their physical or mental health.