§ Mr. Onslowasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what increase or decrease there has been in the staff of the Department under his control since 16th October, 1964; and what increase or decrease he anticipates in the period up to 15th October, 1967.
§ Mr. BowdenThe staff of the Commonwealth Relations Office, as it then was, on 16th October, 1964, numbered 867. The staff of the Commonwealth Office now numbers 586. The latter figure includes staff from the Colonial Office following the merger between the Colonial Office and the Commonwealth Relations Office on 1st August this year. The decrease is largely due to the amalgamation of the Administration Departments of the Commonwealth Relations Office and the Foreign Office on 1st January, 1965, to form the Diplomatic Service Administration Office, which then had 1,338 staff and now has 1,475. Other joint departments and common services for the Commonwealth Office and Foreign Office, subsequently set up, now contain 204 staff.
I expect there to be some decrease in the staff of the Commonwealth Office in the period up to 16th October, 1967, but I cannot at present foresee the precise numbers that may be involved.