HC Deb 25 November 1975 vol 901 cc118-9W
Mr. Stonehouse

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the current number of civil servants in his Department; and what was the total number in the equivalent Departments in 1964 and the percentage increase or decrease between the two dates.

Mr. Ennals

The figures, which relate to both non-industrial and industrial grades, are as follows: 1st October 1975, 10,340; 1st October 1964, 10,646. This represents a percentage decrease of 2.9 per cent. The Diplomatic Service itself has decreased by between 12 and 13 per cent. over this period.