§ 22. Mr. MOREINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the number of persons employed at the Foreign Office in administering the Consular Service prior to the transference of that Service to the Department of Overseas Trade; and what reduction in numbers has been effected as a result of the change?
§ Sir WILLIAM JOYNSON - HICKS (Secretary, Overseas Trade Department)The Consular Department of the Foreign Office, prior to its being placed under the direction of the Department of Overseas Trade, consisted of five officers under the Controller of Commercial and Consular Affairs. The latter appointment has now been abolished, but in view of the pressure of work, especially in connection with the re-organisation of the Consular Service, it has been necessary to increase the staff of the Consular Department itself from five to six officers. Two of these are consular officers who will in due course revert to posts overseas.