HC Deb 27 March 1950 vol 473 cc41-2
60. Mr. Martin Lindsay

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why the Soviet Mission and Soviet agencies in London are permitted to have approximately 259 members when the corresponding figure for British Government representatives in Moscow is about 80.

Mr. Ernest Davies

The disparity is not as stated by the hon. Member. As I said in my reply to his Question on 20th March, the actual number of members of the Soviet Embassy is now only about half of the total of 187 notified. The disparity in numbers of agency officials is because there are no British counterparts in Moscow of Soviet agencies represented in this country, such as the Soviet Trade Delegation, the Tass News Agency and the Moscow Narodny Bank.