The Committee deliberated.

Draft Report (Foreign and Commonwealth Office Annual Report 2006-07), proposed by the Chairman, brought up and read.

Ordered, That the Chairman's draft Report be read a second time, paragraph by paragraph.

Paragraphs 1 to 23 read and agreed to.

Paragraph 24 read, amended and agreed to.

Paragraph 25 read, amended and agreed to.

Paragraphs 26 to 29 read and agreed to.

Paragraph 30 read, amended and agreed to.

Paragraphs 31 to 38 read and agreed to.

Paragraph 39 read, amended and agreed to.

Paragraphs 40 to 49 read and agreed to.

Paragraph 50 read, amended and agreed to.

Paragraphs 51 to 68 read and agreed to.

Paragraph 69 read, amended and agreed to.

Paragraphs 70 to 75 read and agreed to.

Paragraph 76 read, amended and agreed to.

Paragraphs 77 to 94 read and agreed to.

Paragraph 95 read, amended and agreed to.

Paragraphs 96 to 108 read and agreed to.

Paragraph 109 read, amended and agreed to.

Paragraphs 110 to 122 read and agreed to.

Paragraph 123 read, amended and agreed to.

Paragraphs 123 to 132 read and agreed to.

Paragraph 133 read as follows:

"We conclude that the FCO's rejection of the NAO's recommendation to offer expert mediation to those individuals whose complaints initiated the review of grievance procedures sends the wrong message about its commitment to improving its procedures. We recommend that the FCO reverses this decision."

Amendment proposed, to leave out from the first "procedures" in line 3 to "We" in line 4 and insert "is wholly unacceptable. We cannot overstate our concern at the apparent arrogance displayed by the decision to reject the NAO's recommendation.".—(Andrew Mackinlay.)

Question put, That the Amendment be made.

The Committee divided

Ayes, 2 Mr Paul Keetch Andrew Mackinlay

Noes, 5 Rt Hon David Heathcoat-Amory Mr John Horam Mr Eric Illsley Mr Greg Pope Rt Hon Sir John Stanley

Paragraphs 134 to 161 read and agreed to.

Paragraphs (now paragraphs 162 to 166) brought up, read the first and second time, and inserted.

Paragraphs 162 to 170 (now paragraphs 167 to 175) read and agreed to.

Paragraph 171 (now paragraph 176) read, amended and agreed to.

Paragraphs 172 to 175 (now paragraphs 177 to 180) read and agreed to.

Paragraph 176 (now paragraph 181) read, amended and agreed to.

Paragraph 177 (now paragraph 182) read, amended and agreed to.

Paragraph 178 (now paragraph 183) read, amended and agreed to.

Paragraphs 179 to 212 (now paragraphs 184 to 217) read and agreed to.

Paragraph 213 (now paragraph 218) read, amended and agreed to.

Paragraphs 214 to 255 (now paragraphs 219 to 260) read and agreed to.

Paragraph 256 (now paragraph 261) read, amended and agreed to.

Paragraphs 257 to 274 (now paragraphs 262 to 279) read and agreed to.

Paragraph 275 (now paragraph 280) read, amended and agreed to.

Paragraphs 276 to 295 (now paragraphs 281 to 300) read and agreed to.

Paragraph 296 (now paragraph 301) read, amended and agreed to.

Paragraphs 297 to 317 (now paragraphs 302 to 322) read and agreed to.

Resolved, That the Report, as amended, be the First Report of the Committee to the House.

Ordered, That the Chairman do make the Report to the House.

Ordered, That embargoed copies of the Report be made available, in accordance with the provisions of Standing Order No. 134.

Several Papers were ordered to be appended to the Minutes of Evidence.

Ordered, That the Appendices to the Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee be reported to the House. —(The Chairman.)

The Committee further deliberated.

[Adjourned till Wednesday 21 November at 2.00 pm