§ 2. Lieutenant-Colonel Sir SAMUEL HOAREasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any changes have been made in the conditions of admission of candidates to the Consular Service since 1914; and, if so, what?
§ Sir ARTHUR STEEL-MAITLAND (Department of Overseas Trade)The usual Civil Service examination for the Con- 1409 sular Service was suspended during the War, but it will be re-established as soon as circumstances permit. In the meanwhile a Committee of Selection has been set up, by whom candidates for the Consular Service are interviewed after a preliminary interview at the Civil Service Commission. The Committee of Selection recommends suitable candidates to the Secretary of State for appointment in the Service.
§ Sir S. HOAREAre there any written conditions in accordance with which these interviews and selections take place, and, if so, would my hon. Friend send me a copy?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDCandidates of all classes have to fill in certain particulars on a form which they send in, but I do not think there are any rules under which the interview takes place.
§ Sir S. HOARECould anyone apply or is a selection made? Is it open to anyone to be selected?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDProvided that the rules as to his nationality are right in the first instance, anybody can apply as a candidate. He then sends in a form, and he is seen by one of the Civil Service Commissioners, and if he passes that preliminary test then he comes before the Selection Committee.
§ 3. Sir S. HOAREasked how many temporary appointments have been made to the Consular Service since August, 1914; whether it is intended to make any of these temporary appointments; and, if so, which?
§ The following are the numbers of the temporary Consular appointments made during the War:
| August to December, 1914 | None |
| 1915 | 6 |
| 1916 | 38 |
| 1917 | 91 |
| 1918 and 1919 | 38 |
| 173 |
§ These appointments have been made for two reasons: (1) To create temporary salaried Consular posts as a war measure at places where before the War an unsalaried officer was posted; (2) to strengthen the staff at Consular posts where, as a result of the War, a large increase of work necessitated a corresponding increase of staff.
1410§ All temporary officers have been given the opportunity of applying for permanent employment in the Consular Service on the recommendation of their superintending officers. The question of retaining, as salaried posts, posts created as a war measure has been considered in connection with the reorganisation scheme for the Consular Service.
§ Sir S. HOAREAre all these appointments made under the same conditions as those which have just been described by the hon. Member, namely, after consultation with the Civil Service Commission?
§ Sir A. STEEL-MAITLANDI think not, but perhaps my hon. Friend will put down that question.