§ Wing-Commander Jamesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, what is the position and what are the functions of Sir Herbert Emerson; what staff he is to have; where his office is to be accommodated; what funds are at the disposal of his organisation; and what is its estimated annual cost?
§ Mr. LawFor some years past Sir Herbert Emerson has been League of Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and Director of the Inter-governmental Committee on Refugees. In these positions he is not responsible to His Majesty's Government but to the League of Nations and to the Inter-governmental Committee respectively, to both of which His Majesty's Government subscribe. Recently, however, Sir Herbert Emerson has accepted the appointment of Chairman of the Council on Aliens and it is presumably to this that the Question refers. The Council on Aliens was established last year under the authority of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to advise the Government in regard to refugee questions. Sir Herbert Emerson's services are honorary. The secretarial duties of the Council are undertaken by the Foreign Office, and no cost falls on public funds beyond small amounts which are chargeable to the Foreign Office and Diplomatic vote.