HC Deb 21 May 1947 vol 437 cc255-6W
57. Brigadier Rayner

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies, what are the functions and the salary of the colonial attaché recently appointed to the British Embassy, Washington.

Mr. Creech Jones

The officer concerned is attached to the staff of His Majesty's Ambassador at Washington, with the title of "Attaché for Colonial Affairs," and present salary of £1,320 per annum. His duties are, broadly speaking, to advise the Ambassador on all matters which come within the scope of the Secretary of State for the Colonies and, under the Ambassador's authority, to deal with the State Department and other agencies of the United States Government on such matters. He may also be called upon from time to time to assist the permanent U.K. Representative at the Headquarters of the United Nations on United Nations matters which are of particular concern to the Colonial Office and he will shortly take over such duties as remain to the Resident Member in Washington of the British Section of the Caribbean Commission. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and I hope that the appointment of this Attaché will play a part in the furthering of good Anglo-American relations in an important field