§ MR. RYLANDSsaid, he wished to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Whether it is intended to abolish the system, of Foreign Office Agencies at an early date; and, if so, under what conditions the proposed arrangement will be carried out?
MR. OTWAYSir, in fulfilment of the promise I made to the House at the close of last Session, the question of allowing gentlemen in the Foreign Office to act as private agents to members of the Diplomatic and Consular Services has been fully considered by the Secretary of State, and my noble Friend has come to the conclusion that it is not desirable that the present agency business should be continued. Accordingly, after the 30th of November next no person in the Foreign Office will be allowed to act as private agent. This date has been fixed in order to allow time for members of the two services, scattered as they are over the world, to make arrangements for the regular payment of their 1140 salaries, and for the conduct of other matters which for nearly a century have been attended to by the Foreign Office agents. My hon. Friend asks tinder what conditions this arrangement will be carried out. There are no conditions as to the termination of the Foreign Office agency. As I have already stated, the Foreign Office agencies will cease before the close of the year.