§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy regarding the staffing of United Kingdom embassies and high commissions with locally engaged staff; for which categories of job such staff are engaged; what criteria he applied in deciding these categories; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RentonWe employ locally engaged staff in positions where the continuity of service they provide and/ or their detailed knowledge of the local scene will be of value to the mission and in junior support positions which cannot be sensibly filled by United Kingdom based officers.
Locally engaged officers can fill jobs in any section of our missions, but are principally employed on commercial, information, consular and administration work.
421WThe allocation of jobs in our missions between United Kingdom based and locally engaged officers is reviewed during the course of Diplomatic Service inspections, or if the need arises at other times, by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.