HC Deb 25 October 1971 vol 823 c241W
70. Mr. William Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a table showing the increase in the numbers of diplomatic staff in the United Kingdom of the embassies of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Romania, France, Germany and the United States of America between 1960 and 1970; and what steps he intends to take to limit the numbers and to impose restrictions on them equivalent to those imposed on British diplomats in those countries.

Sir Alec Douglas-Home

I am not at present contemplating any limitations or restrictions other than those already announced, which concern the Soviet Union only.

Following are the figures:

The total numbers of diplomatic staff of certain embassies in London at the end of 1970 in comparison with the end of 1960 were as follows:

December, 1960 December, 1970
Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 61 80
Poland 14 14
Hungary 14 14
Czechoslovakia 19 16
Bulgaria 8 10
Romania 17 14
France 31 39
Federal Republic of Germany 34 50
United States of America 111 104
Total 309 341