§ 24. Mr. Barry FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many senior diplomats in overseas posts have any industrial or commercial experience; and if he will list them.
§ Mr. GoodladForty-five senior diplomats of first secretary rank or above, have gained direct industrial or commercial experience through attachments to companies during their diplomatic service careers; 20 are currently serving overseas. Fifty senior diplomats have undertaken attachments to the Department of Trade and Industry; 32 are currently at overseas posts. A number of senior diplomats had commercial or industrial experience before joining the diplomatic service. The figures for these categories are not readily available. A total of 669 senior diplomats have trained for, and carried out, overseas commercial work. Of these, 433 are currently at post. Nearly half our senior locally engaged staff overseas are engaged in commercial work.