HC Deb 06 December 1961 vol 650 cc171-2W
Dr. A. Thompson

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many promotions from first secretary to counsellor took place in 1950, 1955 and 1960, respectively; and what was the percentage of first secretaries so promoted in each of these years.

Mr. P. Thomas

The numbers of promotions from first secretary to counsellor in 1950, 1955 and 1960 were sixteen, twenty and twenty-three respectively. These figures represented 6.53 per cent., 7.87 per cent. and 7.77 per cent. of the numbers of first secretaries in the Foreign Service in each of those years.

Dr. A. Thompson

asked the Lord Privy Seal how many Foreign Service officers were asked to retire within the terms of the under-age retirement scheme in 1950, 1955 and 1960, respectively.

Mr. P. Thomas

In 1950, 1955 and 1960, six, ten and nineteen Foreign Service officers respectively were asked to retire before reaching the age of 60 under the Foreign Service Act, 1943, and the Superannuation Act, 1949, which govern under-age retirement in the Foreign Service.