§ 57. Sir NEWTON MOOREasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas. Trade Department how many officials are employed in his Department, administrative and clerical; what number have had business experience in the export and import trade; and what percentage have made a study of trade conditions overseas in the Dominions and foreign countries?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEThe total number of administrative and clerical officials (excluding typists) employed by the Department of Overseas Trade in this country is 434. Of this total the class of market and trade officers, on whom the Department relies for expert commercial knowledge, numbers 104. Forty-eight of these market and trade officers had had business experience in the import or export trade before joining the Department; the remainder have acquired their special knowledge while in its service. About 57 per cent. of these officers and the directing staff have made a study abroad of trade conditions.
§ Sir N. MOOREIs the 57 per cent. referred to in the answer only 50 per cent. of the 44 who have knowledge of export trade?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI gave the percentage which had actual experience of export and import trade, and I gave the percentage of those who had had opportunity of studying conditions actually overseas. It represented 57 per cent. of 104.
§ Mr. HOGGEHow many of those who have had experience of foreign trade are civil servants, and how many of the men who have been added to the Overseas Department, temporarily, are ex-service men?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member should put down that question.