§ 38. Mr. MOREINGasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what is the difference between the duties performed by the commercial diplomatic officers and those previously carried out by the commercial attachés?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSCommercial diplomatic officers, in addition to their other duties, supervise the commercial work of consular officers, which was not part of the functions of commercial attachés. Apart from this, the difference lies less in the nature of the work done than in the method of its organisation. Under the present system, commercial diplomatic officers address their reports on commercial subjects direct to the Department of Overseas Trade instead of to the Foreign Office, and receive their instructions direct from the Department, of Overseas Trade.