§ Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what bar there is to people of any faith being appointed to be head of particular United Kingdom missions overseas; and if he will make a statement. [145347]
§ Mr. HainThe only case in which a genuine occupational requirement restricts appointment to the position of head of mission is in the case of the annual temporary consular delegation to pilgrims performing the Hajj, where it is essential that all members of the mission should be Muslims. Otherwise, there is no bar to any appointment on religious grounds.