§ LORD SHERFIELDMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have yet decided to establish an Overseas Diplomatic Estates Board, in accordance with the recommendations of the Review Committee on Overseas Representation.]
§ THE MINISTER OF STATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (LORD SHEPHERD)My Lords, no. Inter-departmental consultation is still continuing, but I hope that it will be possible to report a decision before very long.
§ LORD SHERFIELDMy Lords, arising from that reply, does the noble Lord recall that the Duncan Committee saw in this proposal one of the best means of avoiding waste and obtaining full value for money in our overseas representation? Therefore, does not the noble Lord agree that an early decision is desirable? Does he not further recall that in the debate on November 19 more than half the noble Lords who spoke did so in favour of the proposal and none spoke against? Will he therefore use this not inconsiderable consensus in duscussing this matter with those Departments which, unless things have changed very much in Whitehall since my time, will be opposed to this scheme?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I agree with the noble Lord that a decision should be taken at an early date. I am well aware of what the noble Lord said in the debate to which he referred when he, I thought, castigated his own late Department. He did so again to-day, and I hope that they will take note of these discussions.