§ 17. Sir W. Wakefieldasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs for what reason there are four times as many people employed in the British Embassy in Egypt as there were in 1938.
§ Mr. NuttingThe staff required at Embassies abroad necessarily fluctuates with the volume of business arising from the state of our relations with the country concerned. Since 1938, the quantity and range of work falling upon the Embassy in Cairo has greatly increased.
§ Mr. StokesIs it not a fact that a very large proportion of these people in Cairo have nothing whatever to do with the Embassy activities, but are engaged in a rather pseudo Middle East organisation which has long since been defunct? Is it not time they were wound up?
§ Mr. NuttingIt is true that the actual diplomatic staff in the Chancery, for which the Foreign Office is responsible, has been reduced by two since 1938.
§ Mr. StokesThat is not enough.
§ Sir W. WakefieldIs it intended during the coming months to reduce the number of those employed at the Embassy?
§ Mr. NuttingThose for whom we are responsible have been reduced. As to the coming months, we keep all these matters under constant review, but I cannot undertake that any reduction will be made. It depends entirely on the amount of work which will devolve upon the staff.