§ Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what qualifications are required of a Second Secretary (Commercial) at an overseas embassy; and whether the recent appointee to that post in Tokyo had such qualifications.
§ Mr. MulleyPosts of Second Secretary are usually filled by officers serving in their first or second tour overseas. Posts of Second Secretary (Commercial) are normally, therefore, those in which members of the Service get their first experience of commercial work abroad. Before taking up commercial appointments, officers are required to undergo a special intensive course of two months' duration which deals with all aspects of commercial work. Whilst they are serving at the post their work is supervised by and they are given further commercial training by senior and more experienced officers. The normal procedures have been followed in the case of the officer recently appointed to Tokyo.