HC Deb 28 July 1965 vol 717 cc141-3W
Mr. Geoffrey Rhodes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, what percentage of the successful applicants for the foreign, diplomatic and colonial

1960 1961 1962 1963 1964
A B A B A B A B A B
Newcastle n/a n/a n/a 0 (—) 3 (—) 0 (—) 3 (—)
Durham 6 (—) * (—) 11 (—) * (—) 5 (—) * (—) 9 (—) 4 (—) 4 (—) 4 (1)
Leeds 1 (—) * (—) 5 (1) * (—) 2 (—) * (—) 2 (—) 4 (—) 5 (—) 5 (—)
Sheffield 0 (—) * (—) 1 (—) * (—) 0 (—) * (—) 2 (—) 1 (—) 1 (—) 3 (—)
Oxford 136 (22) * (1) 161 (17) * (1) 179 (18) * (1) 147 (13) 12 (—) 108 (10) 40 (5)
Cambridge 94 (5) * (2) 115 (14) * (—) 95 (4) * (—) 99 (7) 14 (2) 93 (7) 20 (3)
Note: Column A refers to the Administrative Branch of the Service, Column B to the University entry to the Executive Branch. The figures in brackets represent successful candidates.
* Indicates that no separate figure for applicants for these years as applications were made for both the Home Civil Service and Foreign Service together.

My hon. Friend may also have had in mind applicants for the Commonwealth Service. During the period in question such applicants were chosen from competitions for the Administrative Class of

services during 1960 to 1964, respectively, was formerly educated at Headmasters' Conference schools and State grammar schools, respectively.

Mr. George Thomson

The Diplomatic Service did not come into existence until 1st January, 1965, and the former Colonial Service, for which I am not responsible, ceased recruitment in 1961. The percentages of successful applicants for entry into the Administrative and Executive Classes of the former Foreign Service (this excludes clerical and lower grades) during 1960 to 1964, educated respectively at Headmasters' Conference Schools and State Grammar Schools not included in the Headmasters' Conference were as follows:

1960 1961 1962 1963 1964
Headmasters' Conference Schools 60 43 35 50 34
State Grammar Schools 33 51 51 32 42

The remainder were educated in schools in other categories, including secondary modern and comprehensive.

Mr. Geoffrey Rhodes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the number of applicants for the foreign, diplomatic and colonial services during 1960 to 1964, respectively, from the universities of Newcastle, Durham, Leeds, Sheffield, Oxford, and Cambridge; and how many of these were accepted.

Mr. George Thomson

The Diplomatic Service only came into being on 1st January, 1965, and I am not responsible for the Colonial Service. I am informed by the Civil Service Commission that the figures for the Foreign Service were as follows:

the Home Civil Service. I am informed that figures for all such competitions, with, in brackets, the number of successful candidates appointed to the Commonwealth Relations Office, are as follows:

Mr. George Thomson

1960 1961 1962 1963 1964
Newcastle 10 (—) 17 (—) 11 (—) 17 (—) 21 (—)
Durham
Leeds 3 (—) 9 (—) 7 (—) 14 (—) 11 (—)
Sheffield 3 (—) 4 (—) 2 (—) 7 (—) 7 (—)
Oxford 216 (2) 287 (5) 287 (1) 242 (3) 182 (3)
Cambridge 175 (2) 175 (2) 141 (4) 150 (2) 181 (3)