§ 17. Mr. Prenticeasked the Minister of Labour how many labour attachés are now serving overseas; what were the comparable figures five years ago, and 10 years ago; and whether he plans to increase these appointments.
§ Mr. GodberThere are now 18 labour attachés and labour advisers serving overseas. There were 19 in 1959 and 18 in 1954. A vacant post in South America will be filled shortly and a new post is to be established in East Africa. An assistant is to be appointed to the labour adviser in West Africa.
§ Mr. PrenticeAre not these figures very small, and would the Minister not agree from his experience at the Foreign Office that labour attachés are extremely valuable and often have contacts in a country which the embassy itself does not have? Now that the whole question of representation is being reviewed, in the light of the Plowden Report, will the right hon. Gentleman consider increasing the number of labour attachés?
§ Mr. GodberI agree that labour attachés play a valuable part in diplomatic representations and, as I have indicated, we are making certain marginal increases in their numbers. I would like to think again about the point the hon. Gentleman has raised, and I can assure him that, where a real need is shown, I will look at the matter sympathetically.