§ MR. SAMUEL ROBERTS (Sheffield, Ecclesall)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the reason why, according to this year's Estimates, Diplomatic and Consular Services (Class 5, page 430), the Commercial Attachés previously stationed at Vienna, Berlin, and Madrid are in future to be stationed in London; for what reason a new item of £1,000 has been introduced into the same Estimates for allowance to secretaries for commercial work; and in what proportions and to which embassies is this sum to be allocated.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYThe new arrangements with regard to Commercial 223 Attachés were drawn up in consultation with the Board of Trade. The practice of stationing Commercial Attachés abroad was found to be not altogether satisfactory and it is hoped that under the new scheme greater assistance will be rendered to British trade and commerce. Allowances will be granted to secretaries in the Diplomatic Service in order to secure systematic and continuous attention to current commercial work on the part of a particular member of the staff. These allowances will at present be assigned as follows:—Berlin, £100; Washington, £100; Rome, £100; St. Petersburgh, £100; Vienna, £100; Madrid, £100; Brussels, £100; Lisbon, £50; Rio, £50; Buenos Aires, £50; Cairo, £50; Tehran, £50; The Hague, £25; Athens, £25.