§ Mr. Bryant Godman Irvineasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs how many vacancies have occurred in posts normally filled from the Colonial Office List during the last 12 months; and how many have been filled.
§ Mr. George ThomasFrom 1st August, 1966, the Colonial Office and the Commonwealth Relations Office were merged, becoming the Commonwealth Office; the staffing requirements of the Commonwealth Office are met from the staff establishment of Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service, which the staff of the Colonial Office have been given an opportunity to join. During the last 12 months, 22 vacancies occurred in the Colonial Office prior to 1st August, 1966, and in the Dependent Territories Division of the Commonwealth Office since then; 20 of them have so far been filled from the common Diplomatic Service establishment.