To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many UK (a) embassies, (b) high commissions and (c) other overseas missions have a politically-appointed head of mission. (252111)

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has two political appointees as high commissioner:

The right hon. Paul Boateng, high commissioner in South Africa, took up the post in June 2005.

The right hon. Helen Liddell, high commissioner in Australia, took up the post in July 2005.