§ Mr. Arnoldasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about relations with Iraq.
§ Mr. HurdWe maintain normal relations with the Government of Iraq consistent with our political, economic and cultural ties with that country. We are neutral in the war between Iraq and Iran.
DS4 DS5 DS6 USI(S) USI USII USIII USIV Total Washington 1 1 1 — — 1 4 — 8 Atlanta — — — — — 1 — — 1 Boston — — — — 1 — — — 1 Chicago — — — — — 1 — — 1 Houston — — — — — 1 1 — 2 Los Angeles — — — — 1 1 2 — 4 New York — 1 1 1 5 8 15 9 40 San Francisco — — — — — 1 1 — 2 Total 1 2 2 1 7 13 24 9 59 The USI officer in Boston spends 70 per cent. of her time on information work. The rest are engaged exclusively on information work.
§ Mr. Arnoldasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the annual cost of the British Information Service in the United States; and if he will break down the figure to show staff costs and other costs separately.
§ Mr. HurdThe staff in the British Information Service in the United States cost £892,000 a year. Other direct information costs amount to an additional £50,000. This does not include support costs in the United Kingdom. Other costs—for example, proportion of shared accommodation, administration support and office running costs—cannot be supplied without a disproportionate expenditure in staff time.