Export Officers (Recruitment)

HC Deb 19 May 1966 vol 728 c1536

34. Mr. Moonman

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will specify the main sources of recruitment of export officers.

Mr. Jay

These officers are established civil servants who have entered the Service through the Civil Service Commission.

Mr. Moonman

Is my right hon. Friend satisfied with the recruitment of these officers, and that they include people with a sufficient range of experience of market research and other sales techniques? From what he has said this would not appear to be the case.

Mr. Jay

On the whole, experience suggests that this is the best method of recruiting. I would not argue that it should never be reviewed.

Mr. Bessell

Is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that recruitment is satisfactory, in the sense that the officers concerned compare favourably with their counterparts in other countries?

Mr. Jay

Yes, Sir. I think that is so, but it would no doubt require a very detailed review to prove it absolutely. From the information I have, I would certainly say that this is so.