§ 57. Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many graduates admitted to the Diplomatic Service during the past five years had been to Oxford or Cambridge Universities, London University, Manchester University and other universities, respectively.
§ Mr. Anthony RoyleThe breakdown of graduate entrants to the Diplomatic Service who took their first degrees at these five groups of universities is as follows:
Oxford and Cambridge … 125 London … 19 Manchester … 5 Other Universities … 78
§ 58. Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken to give effect to paragraphs 357 to 367 of the Plowden Report in relation to Branch A of the Foreign Service; and how the current figure of recruits compares with the 94 per cent. entry from Oxford and Cambridge and the 5.3 per cent. entry from other universities set out therein.
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§ Mr. Anthony RoyleSince these helpful recommendations were made by Lord Plowden's Committee the Diplomatic Service can record good progress under each of the points of comment. The proportion of officers joining the Administrative Grades in 1971 who attended universities other than Oxford and Cambridge was 47 per cent. as compared with the 5.3 per cent. figure recorded in the Plowden Report. So far as school background goes the proportion of entrants to the Administrative Grades in 1971 coming from LEA-assisted schools was 70 per cent. as compared with 28 per cent. noted in the Plowden Report. There have been six entrants to the Administrative Grades during the past five years with a scientific academic background; the skills they being are very welcome.
Fifty graduates have entered the Executive Grades since 1967. The range of work undertaken by these officers has been extended. This encouraging picture of a broadening of the basis of Diplomatic Service graduate entry is largely due to the vigorous efforts made in recent years to extend our recruitment activities throughout British universities on a number of fronts, but the Diplomatic Service must continue to seek the best talent wherever it can be found.
§ Mr. Roseasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to promote recruitment to the Foreign and Diplomatic Services from the new universities; and how many entrants have been recruited therefrom.
§ Mr. Anthony RoyleThere have been 12 entrants to the Diplomatic Service from the 10 "new" universities whose establishment began with Keele. The Diplomatic Service has taken positive steps in recent years to extend its recruitment activities in the new universities through visits in both directions by representatives of the Service as well as by academic, appointment officers and students, participation in their seminars and sabbatical leave for officers to attend some of these universities. We have noticed an encouraging growth of interest in diplomatic careers among students at these universites.