HC Deb 02 April 1996 vol 275 c91W
Mr. Gapes

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many staff are currently in post in the Commonwealth co-ordination department; and what are their grades. [24217]

Mr. Hanley

There are seven permanent staff in the FCO's Commonwealth co-ordination department. Their grades are as follows, with home civil service equivalents in brackets: diplomatic service grade 4 (HCS5), DS5 (HCS7), DS7 (HEO), DS9 (EO), DS 10 (AO), S2 (personal secretary) and executive assistants (no equivalent). Prior to the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, the Departments's staff increased by some 50 per cent. to handle the United Kingdom preparation for those meetings.