§ Sir F. WISEasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the cost of couriers in 1913–14 and the cost in 1925–26?
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Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONThe figures are as follow:
— 1913–14. 1925–26. Foreign Office Vote. £ £ 1. Salaries of King's Messengers travelling from London 1,680 11,948 2. Travelling Expenses 3,535 13,615 Vote for Diplomatic and Consular Services. 3. Amount provided for Local Couriers, resident abroad and connecting various Missions not visited by King's Messengers 4,000 16,500 £9,215 £42,063 It should be observed with regard to the first item that whereas in 1913–14 there were six King's Messengers there are now 25, of whom 10 are temporary. In 1913 the messengers were employed solely in carrying Foreign Office bags, but at the present time the staff of messengers when not actually engaged on journeys is employed at the Foreign Office on the work of cyphering and decyphering telegrams and duties connected therewith.
As regards the second item, it may be noted that in 1913 there were only two regular fortnightly journeys (a) to St. Petersburg, and (b) to Constantinople. There are now two weekly journeys (a) to Bucharest, and (b) to Constantinople. The cost of each journey, owing to the rise in railway fares and incidental expenses, is approximately double the expenditure in 1913. In addition to the regular weekly service there are at the present time frequent journeys in connection with meetings of the League of Nations and other conferences, at which His Majesty's Government are represented.
With regard to the third item, there were in 1913–14 four local couriers in receipt of remuneration; there are now eight. The increase in the number of couriers and in the amount of their expenses is due, partly to the necessity for more frequent communication with the diplomatic posts not lying on the routes of the King's Messengers from London, and partly to the establishment of diplo- 990W matic posts at the seats of government of the separate States which have come into being since the War.