§ Rear-Admiral Morgan-Gilesasked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she is satisfied with the regulations concerning staff employed by her 209W Department in overseas postings; and whether she will make a statement.
§ Mrs. HartThe majority of staff employed by my Department for work overseas are technical assistance officers who are contracted for specific assignments. Wherever practicable the salaries offered to these officers are assessed in the light of salaries in Britain for employment of a comparable nature to the overseas appointment. In addition, while serving overseas the officers concerned are paid allowances which are generally similar to those of members of the Home Civil Service serving in overseas posts.
Contracts of those serving on assignments of more than four months' duration are terminable either by the officer or by my Department at two months' notice if they are overseas at the time, or at five weeks' notice if they are in the United Kingdom.
Although recruitment is not easy in some areas of specialisation, difficulty is not generally experienced in recruiting 210W for technical assistance appointments in regard to the terms and conditions offered.
I believe these arrangements to be generally satisfactory. They are, of course, revised from time to time as necessary.