‘Foreign Office circulars. Particulars regarding temporary officers’ [‎8r] (15/274)

cconnodation in London
Foreign Office accoi^.iodation in London
12, Ls regards the long-tern problen v/e are proceeding
on the assumption that a decision has been taken in favour
of locating the new Foreign Office on the Carlton House
Terrace site c The Ministry of Works have told us that a
really efficient, up-to-date office building can be
constructed on the site and have selected an Architect to
plan its development and have asked us to state our
requirements as fully and precisely as possible. '.7o are
setting up a working party, consisting of a cross-section of
Foreign Office opinion, with experts from the Ministry of
Works and the Treasury Organisation and Methods Division, to
make recommendations as to the best lay-out of departments
and the organisation of the administrative machine to secure
maximum efficiency*
This project will not, of course, mature for some years*
(The whole of the present buildings., excluding the Hash
frontage of the Mall, will have to be demolished and rebuilt
on modern lines)> In the meantime the Secretary of State
has written to the Prime Minister suggesting that the
Foreign Office should temporarily take over the India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors.
and the Colonial Office in the Downing Street block. This
proposal is understood to be with the Prime Minister but
no decision has boon comuonicated. Pending the out-come of
this, v/e are still short of elbow room in Downing Street.
/-r>
Meanwhile a number of existing houses on the Carlton
House Terrace site are being put into order so that we may
transfer there the Overseas Information Department taken
over from the Ministry of Information® They are now in buildings
near Baker Street and their move to Carlton House Terrace,
which will take place gradually ever the next three months,
will represent an important stop towards their closer
integration with the Foreign Office Political Departments.
Reorganisation of Administrative Departments.
13* When the former Orernnn Embassy was put in order for
us, it was possible to effect the ro-organisation of the
former Chief Clerk’s Department, Personnel Department, and
Establishment Section of Consular Department, and locate them
all together in this building® There are now three
Departments, viz® Personnel Department, Establishment and
Organisation Department and Finance Department. The duties
and responsibilities of each have been more closely defined
and additional staff obtained. This has resulted in an
improvement in the handling of administrative matters.
Absorption cf Overseas Information Department from
the_ Ministry of „Ipf ormatt.on®
14* These departments have been successfully taken over
and integrated into the Foreign Office organisation, so far
as accommodation difficulties permit (see para©11 above),
.arrangements for establishment and financial control are
working satisfactorily.
Re-orp:anisati on/