HL Deb 16 March 1983 vol 440 cc823-4WA
Lord O'Hagan

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they take to encourage British applicants from outside the Civil Service for posts in the Institutions of the European Communities.

The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Young)

Her Majesty's Government give every encouragement to applicants from both inside and outside the Civil Service for posts in the Institutions of the European Communities. To that end, a seminar was held prior to the most recent competition for entry to the A6/A7 grades in the European Commission in order to give practical advice on the way in which such competitions are conducted. All applicants, including non-civil servants, were invited. Similar Seminars will be held before future competitions. Following the announcement of the results of the recent competition, in which there were a higher number of successes from the United Kingdom than from any other member state, the Permanent Representation in Brussels offered support and advice to successful applicants. For more senior posts in the EC Institutions we encourage applicants from outside the Civil Service directly and through appropriate organisations.

Lord O'Hagan

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How many British candidates from outside the Civil Service have entered the institutions of the European Communities at the level of A1, A2, A3, A5, A6–7 and A8 in each of the last five years.

Baroness Young

Recruitment to the Institutions of the European Communities is the responsibility of those Institutions and Her Majesty's Government do not possess the information required. However, it is our hope that interest in careers with the Communities will not be confined to civil servants, and we encourage applications from others.

Lord O'Hagan

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What steps they take to make institutions of higher education, appointment boards and careers advisers aware of the opportunities of the jobs in the institutions of the European Communities.

Baroness Young

Her Majesty's Government believe that it is in the interests of all concerned that United Kingdom nationals are adequately represented in the Institutions of the European Communities. To that end, the Civil Service Commission have made available the good offices of their liaison officers with institutions of higher education and career advisory services to publicise the opportunities of employment in EC Institutions. We also have in preparation a leaflet further describing these careers, which offer the prospect of challenging and rewarding work in the service of all the ten member states of the Communities.

Lord O'Hagan

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How often officials in Whitehall responsible for recruitment to the institutions of the European Communities visit the institutions.

Baroness Young

Responsibility for recruitment to the Institutions of the European Communities is vested in the Institutions themselves. Her Majesty's Government, however, believe that it is in the interests of all concerned that United Kingdom nationals are adequately represented in the Institutions, and United Kingdom officials with responsibility for furthering this aim are in regular and frequent contact with those concerned in the Institutions.