§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the number of people seconded to the United Kingdom's permanent representation to the European Community in Brussels in each of the years since the United Kingdom entered the European Community; and if he will break these figures down by Department of origin.
§ Mr. MaudeThe exact figures requested are not easily available and their collection would involve a disproportionate cost. Since 1973 more than 150 non-FCO officials have been seconded to the United Kingdom's permanent representation in Brussels. At any one time roughly half the accredited diplomatic staff at the representation are seconded from the home civil service. The largest number are from the Department of Trade and Industry and Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The Departments of Employment, Energy, Environment, Health, Social Security and Transport, Her Majesty's Treasury, Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland Offices and the Bank of England have also been represented.