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Middle East: Diplomatic Service

Volume 470: debated on Thursday 24 January 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to his Sunday Times article of 6 January 2008, what his estimate is of the cost of transferring staff from Europe to the Middle East and South Asia. (179192)

I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary's written ministerial statement of 23 January 2008, Official Report, columns 52-3WS.

Detailed plans for the transfer of staff resources from Europe to the Middle East and South Asia are still at an early stage. We will not be in a position to estimate costs until we have finalised timings and confirmed all the specific changes that we will need to make.