Departmental Staff (Training)

HC Deb 15 December 1976 vol 922 cc735-6W

36. Mr. Cordle

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration has been given to the devising of less costly methods of carrying out effective and efficient staff training in his Department; and whether consideration has now been given to the use of printed material and correspondence courses instead of residential courses.

Dr. Owen

My right hon. Friend's Department continuously reviews its training programmes, to ensure that in each case the most cost-effective and efficient method is used. Generally, instruction in the work of the Diplomatic Service is most effectively given through participatory courses with practical exercises, held under experienced supervision. Apart from intensive language courses, my right hon. Friend's Department runs only two residential training courses annually.

Mr. Cordle

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff training conferences have been organised by his Department during each of the last five years; when they were held; and how much each cost in terms of (a) travelling expenses, (b) salaries and allowances paid to participants for their time, (c) accommodation expenses and (d) salaries and fees paid to lecturers and course organisers.

Dr. Owen

The full information requested cannot be made available without disproportionate effort and expense. The numbers of vocational and developmental courses organised by my Department in each of the last five years are as follows:

			Vocational	Developmental
1972	…	…	79	14
1973	…	…	79	19
1974	…	…	80	18
1975	…	…	86	19
1976	…	…	80	19

Mr. Cordle

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff training conferences have been planned by his Department in the foreseeable future; what is the planned subject for discussion at each of them; where they are to be held; and what is the estimated cost of each in terms of (a) travelling expenses, (b) accommodation expenses, (c) salaries and allowances paid to participants for their time and (d) salaries and fees paid to lecturers and course organisers.

Dr. Owen

The full information requested is not readily available. The provisional programme of courses to be organised by my Department in 1977 provides for 86 vocational and 20 developmental courses.