§ 23. Mr. MANDERasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state whether it is the intention of the Government to appoint any form of committee of inquiry into the question of unifying the diplomatic, Consular and commercial diplomatic services?
Mr. A. HENDERSONNo, Sir. The duties of the three services are in many respects different, and call for somewhat different qualifications. Experience has shown that the existing practice, whereby officers are transferred from time to time from one service to another according to their particular aptitudes, is peferable to any rigid system of unification.
§ Mr. MANDERDoes the right hon. Gentleman intend to allow the past system to continue indefinitely unchanged?