§ Lord Alton of Liverpoolasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the present level of the Department for International Development establishment at the British Embassy in Beijing; how many are employed on a permanent basis or on contract; what are their terms of reference; and what was the comparable number of personnel five years ago. [HL1335]
§ Baroness AmosThe Department for International Development has five members of staff at the British Embassy in Beijing at present. All are on contracts of between two and three years. Their terms of reference are to manage the department's portfolio of bilateral development projects in China. DfID also funds three locally recruited members of staff, on annual contract to the Diplomatic Service Bureau, who provide administrative support. A fourth post is under recruitment.
There were no DfID staff in post five years ago. Prior to May 1999 bilateral projects were administered by Diplomatic Service staff in the Embassy as part of their wider duties, supported by locally recruited staff.