§ 6. Captain Stricklandasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any arrangements have been made to ensure that in the reformed Diplomatic Service the principal embassies overseas will contain members who are qualified to send competent reports on scientific and technical developments affecting industry and commerce in the countries concerned.
§ Mr. LawAs stated in Command Paper 6420, my right hon. Friend intends that the reformed Foreign Service will contain members who are qualified to deal with economic and commercial as well as political and social questions. Part of the duty of these officers will be to send in reports of developments affecting industry and commerce in foreign countries. It is not, however intended that Foreign Service officers should attempt to become specialists in scientific and technical processes. My right hon. Friend is, however, prepared to consider the attachment to His Majesty's Missions of specially qualified scientific and technical advisers when it appears to be in the national interest that this should be done.
Wing-Commander JamesPending the post-war recruitment, are steps being taken to have attached to any Embassy, such as Paris, a commercial attaché to watch British interests in newly liberated territories?
§ 7. Mr. Ivor Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the scheme of special entry to meet the demands of the Foreign Service during the reconstruction period immediately after the war, mentioned in the White Paper on Proposals for the Reform of the Foreign Service, has yet been completed.
§ Mr. LawThe scheme has been completed with the exception of one or two points which it is hoped will shortly be settled.