BT3 AEB
DISTRIBUTION
For Heads of Department and Above
41/91
Plan D
1/3
FCO Circular No:
File Ref: PBV 261/7
Date: 25 February 1991
All Posts (including Dependent Territories)
Fo...
Mk 3.027
2 1 MAR 1999
DAY
For action: Heads of Mission
Heads of Department and Above
ED T
SPONSORED VISITS SCHEME
1. The merger between this Department's Visits Section and the Overseas Visitors Division of the Central Office of Information was completed on 1 October last year and the combined operation is now running smoothly.
2. The Sponsored Visits scheme is now tied in much more closely to FCO objectives. Each visit should be considered with a particular objective in mind. The old COI forms A, B and C will shortly be redesigned to bring out the targetting of this exercise more clearly. We are also designing a debriefing and follow-up procedure which will involve posts in a more systematic evaluation of sponsored visits.
3.
The 1989 Annual Information Reports and TMR returns have indicated that visits are still seen as an effective and worthwhile information medium. Unfortunately Information Department has suffered a significant budget cut (16.5%) for the next financial year, and visits have had to take their share of the reduction. Each post's quota has been revised with this in minä (as well as recent political developments) and the new quot as have now been sent out. I regret that our accounting system does not make it possible to carry over unused quotas from one year to the next.
4. Category I nominations for the next financial year (1991/92) should now be sent to the relevant Group Head in Information Department and copied to the geographical department. Details are given at the end of the attached guidance notes.
A D Harris
Head, Information Dept
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