To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment has been made of the effects on levels of service of the withdrawal of management officers in the UK missions and their replacement with locally-engaged staff in (a) Iran, (b) Iraq, (c) Nigeria, (d) Russia and (e) China; and if he will make a statement. (318450)

Our missions will continue to provide appropriate levels of service for our staff whether supported by UK or locally-based staff. In Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Russia and China, there will still be senior UK-based management staff.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office tries to work very much as a single team, offering full responsibility and accountability to local as well as UK-based staff in accordance with their roles. We are privileged to attract a high calibre of local staff who deliver an excellent level of service including in the area of corporate services work.