HC Deb 30 March 1993 vol 222 c123W
Mr. Hutton

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many commercial attaches are currently serving in British embassies and high commissions overseas; in what countries; and how many had worked in industry before their appointment to the diplomatic service.

Mr. Goodlad

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Porter) on 10 March at column 602. Commercial work is part of the responsibility of all our bilateral ambassadors and high commissioners and all our senior diplomats overseas have an understanding of the importance of commercial diplomacy and trade promotion.