§ 58. Dame Irene Wardasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the numbers and diplomatic categories within the terms of the Vienna Convention of the official commercial representatives of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the other countries of Eastern Europe in London, and of such representatives of the United Kingdom in the foreign capitals concerned; and if he will adjust the numbers in favour of greater British official representation abroad to assist in rectifying the present imbalance of trade between the United Kingdom and the majority of these countries.
§ Mr. PadleyI am arranging for the details requested by the hon. Member to be published in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
I do not think that any increase in commercial staff in Eastern Europe, which could only be at the expense of other diplomatic posts, would be justified at present; but my right hon. Friend will keep this under review, in consultation with the President of the Board of Trade, in the light of developments in each particular country.
We will continue to do everything practicable to ensure that no opportunity for increasing our exports to these and other countries is missed because of shortage of staff.
15WFollowing are the details:
OFFICIAL COMMERCIAL REPRESENTATIVES (WITHIN THE TERMS OF THE VIENNA CONVENTION) OF THE U.S.S.R. AND OTHER EAST EUROPEAN COUNTRIES IN LONDON Members of Diplomatic Staff Members of Administrative and Technical Staff Total Bulgaria 2 5 7 Czechoslovakia 3 — 3 Hungary 1 7 8 Poland 3 — 3 Rumania 7 — 7 U.S.S.R. 3 — 3 Totals 19 12 31
MEMBERS OF H.M. EMBASSIES IN EAST EUROPE ENGAGED IN COMMERCIAL WORK Members of Diplomatic Staff Members of Administrative and Technical Staff Total Bulgaria 1 — 1 Czechoslovakia 1 — 1 Hungary 1 — 1 Poland 2 1 3 Rumania 1 — 1 U.S.S.R. 4 2 6 Totals 10 3 13