§ 41. Mr. DOUGLAS HACKINGasked the Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department whether he is yet in a- position to give detailed information of the new appointments foreshadowed by the Lord Privy Seal to the Trade Commissioner or other overseas trade service?
§ Mr. GILLETTIt is proposed to create eight new posts in the Commercial Diplomatic Service, one in each of the following countries: Argentina, Brazil, China for service in Manchuria, Colombia, Egypt, Finland, Persia and Switzerland, and two new Trade Commissioner posts, one each at Montreal and 15 Durban. While for any of these appointments special consideration will be given to members of the Commercial Diplomatic, Trade Commissioner and Consular Services, as well as of the Civil Service generally, it has been decided to consider also applications from outside the Government service. An announcement giving details will appear in the Press at an early date. Particulars will also be obtainable from the Civil Service Commission and the Department of Overseas Trade. The recommendations for appointments will be made by a Selection Board consisting of a Member of this House, three representative business men, and one representative each from the Foreign Office, Board of Trade, Civil Service Commission and the Department of Overseas Trade. The Chairman of the Board will be the First Civil Service Commissioner.
§ Mr. HACKINGWill there be any additions to the staff at home in connection with the new organisation.
§ Mr. GILLETTYes, Sir.
§ Mr. SMITHERSWhat will be the cost to the State of these 10 new appointments?
§ Mr. SPEAKERHon. Members prefer that their questions should be answered, before the intervention of another hon. Member with another supplementary question.
§ Mr. GILLETTThe payments will be according to the regular scale which, as the hon. Member is probably aware, is somewhere in the neighbourhood of about £1,600 with certain additions and allowances.
§ Mr. SMITHERSFor each?
§ Mr. GILLETTFor each appointment.
§ Mr. MILLSDoes the list which the hon. Gentleman has given exhaust the number of possible appointments or those likely to be made, in view of the large number of countries not yet covered adequately by consular representation?
§ Mr. GILLETTI do not consider that it exhausts the possible appointments, but for the moment, these are the appointments which we regard as urgent.
§ Colonel HOWARD-BURYIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there are in Persia, more consuls and vice-consuls than there are in Germany.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat question ought to be put on the Paper.