§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what increase or decrease there has been in the stafe of the Department under his control since 16th October, 1964; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th October, 1967.
§ Mrs. WhiteThe staff of the Foreign Office on the 16th October, 1964, numbered 1,815. It now totals 601. This is largely due to the amalgamation of the Administrative Departments of the Foreign Office and the Commonwealth Relations Office on the 1st January, 1965, to form the Diplomatic Service Administration Office, which then had 1,338 staff and now has 1,475. Other joint Departments and common services for the84W Foreign Office and Commonwealth Office, subsequently set up, now contain 204 staff.
I cannot at present foresee any significant change in the number of staff of the Foreign Office in the period up to the 15th October, 1967.