§ 26. Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how long it is intended to maintain the United Kingdom Headquarters of the Foreign Office Administration of certain African Territories.
§ Mr. YoungerThe Foreign Office Administration of African Territories must be maintained for so long as His Majesty's Government remain responsible for the administration of any of the ex-Italian Colonies in Africa, and for such further period as is necessary to complete the discharge of their responsibilities in those Colonies. I regret that it is not possible at this stage to be more precise.
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerIs the Minister aware that there appear to be three times as many people employed in this country than in Africa at three times the cost? Is that not the wrong way round?
§ Mr. YoungerI am not aware of that figure. When we remember that we still have considerable responsibilities in Eritrea, Cyrenaica and Tripolitania, I do not think that the total number employed at home—125—is excessive.