§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the estimated cost to Scottish taxpayers of maintaining the Diplomatic Service; and what were such costs in each year from 1960 to 1976.
§ Mr. EnnalsRecords have not been maintained in such a way that would enable me to make such an estimate other than at the cost of disproportionate time and effort.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what would be the estimated annual running cost of a separate Scottish Foreign Service, able to fulfil its proportional share of commitments 352W which the British Foreign Service is fulfilling.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe recurrent costs borne on Diplomatic and Consular Services Vote 1 amount at present to approximately £2 a year per head of the population of the United Kingdom. But it should be borne in mind that to run a separate Scottish Foreign Service would entail, in addition, costs for office facilities and supplies, superannuation of staff, information and cultural activities, and subscriptions to international organisations, depending on the nature and size of that Service.
With so many imponderables, an estimate such as that requested could not be made except at the cost of disproportionate time and effort.
§ Lord James Douglas-Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what share of proposed spending on the Diplomatic Service is expected to be borne by Scottish taxpayers over the next five years.
§ Mr. EnnalsEstimates are not broken down on a basis that would enable me to answer this question other than at the cost of disproportionate time and effort.