§ Mr. Thomas Coxasked the Lord Privy Seal what financial cuts have been imposed on each British embassy or high commission office; and what has been the reduction of staff and services following these cuts.
§ Mr. RidleyThe Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Diplomatic Service are committed to finding savings of £6 million, equivalent to a reduction in United Kingdom-based manpower of 425. The bulk of these savings will be found by manpower reductions at home, closure of 15 subordinate posts and staff reductions at a further eight, and savings in our largest missions. The exact savings in each mission will be decided on the basis of Diplomatic Service inspections.