§ 2.36 p.m.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government whether posts on the staffs of High Commissioners representing the United Kingdom in Commonwealth countries are reserved for the Home Civil Service, or whether applications will be considered from suitable candidates whose employment with the Indian Civil Service, Indian Police and similar services has terminated owing to political changes.]
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (VISCOUNT ADDISON)My Lords, it is considered essential that the majority of administrative posts on the staffs of United Kingdom High Commissioners in Commonwealth countries should be filled by established officers of the Home Civil Service on the staff of the Commonwealth Relations Office, or in some instances by members of the Foreign Service or by established civil servants from other 2 United Kingdom Government Departments, seconded to the Commonwealth Relations Office for the purpose.
A number of former members of the Indian Services have been absorbed into the United Kingdom Home Civil Service and the Foreign Service since the transfer of responsibility in India, and some of these officers are now serving in United Kingdom High Commissioners' offices on normal tours of duty.
LORD CLYDESMUIRMy Lords, do I understand from what the noble Viscount has said that unless the officer is absorbed into the Home Civil Service, his chances of obtaining a post with a High Commissioner's staff overseas are very slight?
§ VISCOUNT ADDISONThat does not necessarily apply to all officers. The position is somewhat different as regards non-administrative posts on the staffs of United Kingdom High Commissioners. In those cases—for example, in the offices of the High Commissioners in India and Pakistan—a number of such posts are now filled by persons who were formerly members of the various Indian Services other than the Secretary of State's Services and were recruited locally for the purpose.
LORD CLYDESMUIRMy Lords, are His Majesty's Government aware that there are a number of good men—a relatively small number, I agree—still without employment, and that there is a high obligation to help these men to find employment due to the fact that their work was terminated owing to political changes over which they had no control?
§ VISCOUNT ADDISONMy Lords, I am sure the Government are well aware of those facts, but for the particular class of officers to whom the noble Lord referred we must have men with a certain amount of Service experience.
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, do I understand the noble Viscount to say it is considered essential that these offices should be staffed with civil servants with a certain amount of experience? May I inquire why that is so?
§ VISCOUNT ADDISONBecause to fill offices of this kind we must have people who have had responsibility in the Service.
LORD CLYDESMUIRThe noble Viscount said it was considered essential in "the majority of cases." I take it that there is opportunity for special consideration in certain cases.
§ VISCOUNT ADDISONThere are quite a number of offices which have been filled in that way.