§ 6. Mr. Mayhewasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many information posts are maintained overseas; and how many of these are staffed by a single information officer.
Dr. HillThere are overseas 117 United Kingdom information posts, of which nine are staffed by one United Kingdom-based officer only, and three by one locally-recruited officer only.
§ Mr. MayhewWhile welcoming the apparent reduction in the number of one-man offices, may I ask whether the Chancellor agrees with the Drogheda Report that if possible these offices should be wound up because of their obvious drawbacks?
Dr. HillThese one-man offices are for the most part sub-offices of main offices. One, that of Kingston, Jamaica, is shortly to become a two-man office. I agree with the hon. Member that, in general, a one-man office working alone suffers great disadvantages. For the most part, these are sub-offices of main ones.