THE INDUSTRY AND TRADE COMMITTEE
25
7 July 1982]
MR PETER REES, MP, MR C B BENJAMIN and MR A DUNNING
[Chairman Contd.] matter more for my colleagues in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Foreign Office inspectors go round regu- larly and I am aware they take into account, of course, past trends and try and extrapo- late from them, but they try and make as rational an assessment as we do of the likely future course of business.
Mr McNally
60. Surely it should be your choice as to where you put your trade representatives rather than the Foreign Office? Is it a Foreign Office judgement in the last analy- sis?
(Mr Rees.) I suppose in a formal sense, yes, but there is a very strong input from my Department.
66
Chairman
61. SEATAG is rather strong in saying:
the level of commercial staff in some of the ASEAN markets is now inadequate related to market potential. We would welcome the opportunity of contributing a private sector view if any new consideration of this matter is possible". Would you go along with that?
(Mr Rees.) I have not had any very persuasive evidence that the posts are un- der-staffed but, again, one looks very care- fully at any complaints from any individual British entrepreneur who says they do not get the kind of service they require. We are always, I hope, very open-minded on that and we shall be studying with great care the evidence that comes to you on this point. I would not like you to think that the connection with SEATAG is limited to this Committee room, indeed on the delegations I have taken round I have fairly distin- guished representatives and we have had consultations. Three are overall staff con- straints on the Foreign Office but this is a fast moving situation and one has to make certain one is not neglecting opportunities, in certain markets by the paucity of service but I am not persuaded, myself, that we are not providing the service that is required overall.
62. If they made representations to you that a particular market or post was inade- quately staffed would you consider it?
(Mr Rees.) Most seriously and most urgently.
Mr Hill
63. Do I read into that word "level" in the statement given by SEATAG that there
[Continued
is an implication it may not be only the numbers but the quality of the information that that staff number is radiating to the commercial operator? Have there been any complaints about inadequate commercial knowledge of some of these staff?
(Mr Rees.) I do not know whether there have been, as it were, any criticisms levelled at any particular individuals. I am afraid I would not know, I can certainly ask Mr Dunning if he can come in on this. In a large organisation there are bound to be variations in quality, variations in experi- ence. One finds a person who has just arrived at a post, even though he has inherited certain expertise, it may take a month to play himself in. I would hesitate to say that there is no basis for such a complaint; criticisms are voiced, they are certainly not widespread.
64. Is it not a fact that the selection of
these key staff members almost as impor- tant as an ambassador in terms of the commercial entrepreneurs Or opera- - should be very highly screened for their commercial knowhow and ability to express themselves to the commercial peo- ple on both sides?
tors
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(Mr Rees.) I believe they are and if I may add one point arising out of Mr Hill's question, I have certainly found in the course of my travels that ambassadors now are keenly aware of their commercial re- sponsibilities. In certain countries this al- most outweighs their political responsibili- ties. There are certain areas of the world where our relationships are predominantly commercial rather than political in the old
sense.
Mr Stevens
65. This has followed Sir Alec Home's instruction in 1970 when he went to the Foreign Office that heads of missions must have had experience in commercial depart- ments. Does the Department of Trade have links, either educational or otherwise, with Foreign Office staff who are serving in commercial roles in their various missions?
(Mr Rees.) Yes indeed, there are mem- bers of the Department of Trade serving in overseas missions and there are members of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office serving on secondment inside the Depart- ment of Trade. The links are very close.
66. That must be fairly new? (Mr Rees.) I could not say. My experience is, obviously, new.