HL Deb 28 July 1988 vol 500 cc473-4WA
Lord Orr-Ewing

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will give a breakdown of the number of people proposed for posts as civil servants in the EC Commission in the last five years; and whether they will state:—(a) from what professional background they came; (b) by whom their names are forwarded to Brussels; and (c) who has responsibility for assembling the list of Candidates.

Lord Belstead

The Commission of the European Communities recruits, in the case of most posts, through open competitions. Candidates accordingly apply direct to the Commission, and information about their professional background is not held by Her Majesty's Government. In a number of cases, where Her Majesty's Government are asked to nominate candidates for particular posts, nominations by departments are, if necessary, co-ordinated by the Cabinet Office and the names are forwarded to the Commission by the Office of the United Kingdom Permanent Representative to the European Community. Historical details of the background of nominated candidates have not been kept.