HC Deb 08 March 1999 vol 327 cc1-2W
Mr. Dismore

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many ambassadors and high commissioners there are; how many of them(a) are women, (b) are members of ethnic minorities, (c) have Oxbridge degrees and (d) were educated at public schools; and if he will make a statement. [74880]

Mr. Tony Lloyd

As of 1 March 1999 there were 148 Ambassadors and High Commissioners and High Commissioners/Ambassadors designate. Seven are women. None are members of ethnic minorities. Eighty-four have degrees from Oxford or Cambridge universities. Information on the schools they attended is incomplete but at least sixty were educated at private schools and at least fifty-eight were educated at state schools.