§ Mr. Ammonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the average number recruited annually for the Foreign Office and the diplomatic Service, respectively, in the 10 years before the war?
§ Mr. EdenThe average annual entry into the Foreign Office and Diplomatic Service, which was a combined Service, was seven.
§ Mr. G. Straussasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is to be the composition of the Board which will select and interview candidates for the Foreign Service; and will he consider the inclusion in it of persons outside the Service qualified by their experience in education, business and political activities to form an opinion of the outlook and character of the candidates?
§ Mr. EdenThe interview boards which will conduct theviva voce part of the entrance examinations for the Foreign Service will be constituted by the Civil Service Commission, who fully appreciate the importance of including on these 1224W boards, not only representatives of the Foreign Service, but also other persons qualified to form an opinion on the suitability of candidates for that service.
§ Mr. G. Straussasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in connection with the White Paper proposals for recruitment to the Foreign Service immediately after the war, he will instruct the Selection Board to make a survey of the various unofficial agencies which have been concerned with international relations in the economic and political fields during the war, such as the British Broadcasting Corporation, Chatham House, Lend-Lease administration and liaison and public relations work in the Army?
§ Mr. EdenI will draw the attention of the Civil Service Commission to the hon. Member's suggestion, but I would point out that in any event there will be nothing to stop employees of the organisations referred to, who come within the prescribed age limits and are otherwise qualified, from presenting themselves as candidates for the new Foreign Service.