HC Deb 05 May 1924 vol 173 cc12-3
18. Major HORE-BELISHA

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if there has been any, and, if so, what, change in the method by which the Foreign Office is recruited; and from what date the change, if any, dates?

The PRIME MINISTER

Since July, 1907—with the exception of the War period when no examinations were held, and the period 1919 to 1922 when special arrangements were made under the Reconstruction Regulations for admission, after passing a qualifying examination and appearing before a Board of Selection, of candidates with war service—the examination for the Foreign Office and Diplomatic Service has been held concurrently with the examination for the administrative class of the home Civil Service, Indian Civil Service, Eastern cadetships and the Colonial Services. It is identical with that examination except in so far as a high standard of qualification in certain modern languages is required from candidates for the Foreign Office and Diplomatic Service. Candidates for the Foreign Office and Diplomatic Service are required to appear, previously, before a Board of Selection whose function it is to decide which candidates possess suitable qualifications. In 1919 the property qualification formerly required of candidates for the Diplomatic Service was abolished, in accordance with the recommendations of the Report of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service of 1914.

Major HORE-BELISHA

Will the Prime Minister say what he meant when he stated during the Recess that some change had been made since the accession to office of his Government in the recruitment for the Foreign Office?

The PRIME MINISTER

The hon. and gallant Member has misread my speech I said that changes had been made to which we had previously taken exception, and those changes are embodied in the answer I have given.

Sir H. BRITTAIN

Is it not a fact that the administration of the British Foreign Office is the admiration and envy of every foreign nation?

Mr. AYLES

Has the property qualification for candidates been abolished, and, if so, is the salary now paid adequate?

The PRIME MINISTER

That question is answered in the last paragraph of my reply. It has been revoked, and salaries have been adjusted accordingly.