British Embassies and Posts (Commercial Departments) (Hansard, 20 October 1976)

§ 19. Mr. Gwilym Roberts
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will initiate a study into the effectiveness of commercial departments in British embassies and posts overseas; what steps he is taking to increase their effectiveness; and if he will make a statement.

§ Mr. Tomlinson
The Central Policy Review Staff is already conducting a review of our overseas representation. Part of its task will be to look at the question that my hon. Friend has raised. It would not be appropriate at this stage to anticipate its findings.

§ Mr. Roberts
Will my hon. Friend accept that there is a widely held industrial view that although the commercial side of these departments has improved considerably in recent years, there is still room for strengthening them in special skill areas? Will the CPRS look at the possibility, in areas where special skills are involved, of borrowing people from industry on a temporary basis?

§ Mr. Tomlinson
All sides of industry are represented in the British Overseas Trade Board, and this is responsible for the direction of the commercial work overseas. The Central Policy Review Staff will take into account the views of all the interested parties in considering our representation overseas.

§ Mr. Marten
As it is the policy of the main parties in this House to move towards economic and monetary union and the full integration of our country into the European Community—[Interruption.] I meant the Front Benches—at what point will this reflect itself in a massive cut in the Foreign Service when Europe, speaking with one voice, as it is supposed to, can be represented by one voice overseas, enabling us thereby to cut out all British embassies?

§ Mr. Tomlinson
As the hon. Gentleman's suggestion is based on such a false hypothesis, I do not think that this is the time at which to pursue it.

§ Mr. McCrindle
But long before the idyllic circumstances arrive to which my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) referred, does the Minister accept that there has indeed been a considerable improvement in the commercial departments of embassies abroad? May I echo the point made by the hon. Member for Cannock (Mr. Roberts) and suggest that we should be thinking about the secondment of someone experienced in marketing to embassies in the areas in which we expect and hope to increase our exports?

§ Mr. Tomlinson
I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his comments. The whole House will echo the statement that there has been a remarkable improvement in this area. As for the other suggestion, this is exactly the kind of matter that will be considered by the CPRS during its study.