§ Mr. MacleanTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes his Department has made in the deployment of staff handling media matters in(a) the United Kingdom and (b) embassies and high commissions abroad since 1 May 1997; and if he will make a statement. [73603]
§ Mr. FatchettSince 1 May 1997 the FCO News Department had recruited an additional 7 staff, of whom 4 are designated press officers and one spends half his time as a press officer. There have been no significant 605W changes in the deployments of staff dealing with media matters overseas: a detailed analysis could be provided only at disproportionate cost.