§ Lord O'Haganasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will make a statement about the recruitment of officials of British nationality to the institutions of the EEC; and whether they will say whether recent improvements in procedures in the United Kingdom are adequate.
The Minister of State, Privy Council Office, and Minister for the Arts (The Earl of Gowrie)A competition for recruitment to the A grades of the Commission of the European Communities was held in the spring of last year. More candidates of British-nationality were successful in reaching the reserve lists from which appointments are made than candidates of any one other member state and there is every reason to expect this excellent performance to be reflected in the number of appointments made. Her Majesty's Government hope that the recent improvements in procedures in the United Kingdom have been instrumental in achieving this result. The Government will continue to seek to encourage applicants for vacancies in EC institutions and will make further improvements in the procedures under their control if experience shows this to be necessary.