HC Deb 28 February 2003 vol 400 cc756-7W
Mr. Laws

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his estimate is of the number of full-time staff employed by the(a) FCO and (b) British Council, in each year from 1995–96 to 2005–06 (planned); and if he will make a statement. [98433]

Mr. Mike O'Brien

The number of UK-based staff employed by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British Council since 1995 is as follows.

Staff in post figures correct on 1 April FCO British Council
1995 5,984 Not available
1996 5,787 Not available
1997 5,539 Not available
1998 5,412 1019
1999 5,485 1025
2000 5,480 1018
2001 5,490 1060
2002 56,80 1049

The FCO's provisional estimate of positions for 2003 is 6,033. We are unable to provide planned staffing figures for 2004, 2005 and 2006 until the spending plans have been finalised. The British Council is unable to provide a projected figure at this time.