§ 46. Mr. Croninasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions he has given to British ambassadors and high commissioners abroad with regard to increasing their efforts to further British exports.
§ Mr. MulleyBritish ambassadors and high commissioners are under standing instructions to regard promotion of ex ports as a first charge on their resources.
§ Mr. CroninIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is considerable variation in the degree of helpfulness received by British exporters from British embassies and high commissions? Will he look into this and reiterate the instructions given by the former Foreign Secretary on the helpfulness that embassies and high commissions abroad should show to our exporters?
§ Mr. MulleyIf my hon. Friend can give me instances of complaints about lack of assistance I should be glad to look into them, but I cannot accept the general charge when, almost every day, I receive letters from chambers of commerce and individual firms thanking us for our assistance and saying how much better the services are now than they were some years ago.
§ Mr. James DavidsonIs it considered an essential qualification for promotion 870 in the Foreign and Commonwealth Service that a candidate should have spent at least one tour of duty in the commercial office of a leading embassy?
§ Mr. MulleyI would not say that it is a formal requirement but there is a great desire among younger members of the Service in particular to make a contribution to helping exports in this way. Indeed, a number of recent entrants, asked why they had applied to join the Service, said that they felt that they could make an increased contribution in this way to the future prosperity of the country.