Jim Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Cunningham on 2015-11-23.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many Diplomatic Service personnel were employed in Asia in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood

There were the following number of Diplomatic Service personnel in Asia:

2015 – 419 (total FCO employees – 487)
2014 – 437 (total FCO employees – 519)
2013 – 479 (total FCO employees – 552)
2012 – 471 (total FCO employees – 535)
2011 – 460 (total FCO employees – 535)

The reduction in Diplomatic Service personnel reflects the localisation of support grade roles, which are now filled by locally engaged staff.