§ 40. Colonel Gomme-Duncanasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reports on individuals are called for and examined before appointments to important posts in the Foreign Office are made.
§ Mr. NuttingRecommendations for appointments to senior posts in the Foreign Office are made on the basis of the confidential personal records of the officer concerned kept by the Personnel Department, which include periodical reports made by his superiors, and of the personal knowledge of him possessed by the Senior Promotions Board of the Foreign Office.
In addition, special inquiries are now made about Government staff employed, or who are under consideration for 996 employment, on exceptionally secret work. This procedure applies to all important posts in the Foreign Office.
§ Colonel Gomme-DuncanIf that is the case, can my hon. Friend explain how it came about that two disreputable characters such as Burgess and MacLean could have been in important positions in the Foreign Service?
§ Mr. NuttingThe question of security precautions and the vetting of staff to be engaged on highly secret and important work has been tightened up since the incident to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers.