§ Mr. Norman Lamontasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken to economise on telephone calls and cables in the Diplomatic Service in the last 12 months; and if he will specify the measures taken and savings achieved.
§ Mr. LuardThe need for economy in telephoning and telegraphing is constantly kept in mind in the Diplomatic Service. No details are yet available of the telephone calls made during the last 12 months, but the installation of automatic equipment in London and at some posts 735W abroad is resulting in substantial savings. The number of telegrams handled in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1976 was 14.5 per cent. less than in 1975. It is not possible to quantify the financial saving.