HC Deb 12 November 1975 vol 899 cc850-1W
Mr. Tugendhat

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of Her Majesty's Government's missions overseas have been increased in size and how many diminished since 1970; and if he will list the missions concerned.

Mr. Rowlands

The staffing of missions overseas is regularly reviewed, and when necessary changed, to ensure that our resources are deployed to best advantage. Our missions now have 4 per cent. fewer Diplomatic Service staff on average than in 1970. A comprehensive list of increases and reductions at each mission over the past five years is not readily available. Since 1970, however, 22 career posts overseas have been closed and eight new ones opened.

Mr. Tugendhat

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many diplomats and other specialist staff are employed at Her Majesty's Government's missions to international bodies, such as the United Nations, OECD and GATT, but excluding the European Communities; and what are the comparable figures for 1960 and 1970.

Mr. Rowlands

The figures are as follows, excluding non-diplomatic staff:

Majesty's Government's missions in India Pakistan and Bangladesh; and how many were employed in the same region before the establishment of Bangladesh.

Mr. Rowlands

172 diplomats and other United Kingdom-based specialist staff with diplomatic rank are employed at Her Majesty's Missions in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh compared with 155 in the same region before the establishment of Bangladsh.

Mr. Tugendhat

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many domestic servants are employed by members of Her Majesty's missions overseas at the expense of Her Majesty's Government; what is the cost to public funds; and how these figures compare with 1960 and 1970.

Mr. Rowlands

1,078 servants are employed by Heads of Missions overseas at an annual cost of approximately £1,238,000. Comparable figures for 1960 and 1970 are not readily available; to obtain them would involve a disproportionate cost to public funds. Domestic help is also employed, full time or part-time, by other members of missions overseas. This varies according to need and the custom of the country in which they are serving.