§ Lord Lamont of Lerwickasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it is now their policy, or has been at any stage, that senior diplomatic postings may be filled by open competition, making them available to nonprofessional diplomats. [HL458]
§ Baroness Scotland of AsthalWe have opened certain posts to open competition as part of our continuing strategy to ensure that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is as professional, adaptable, effective and innovative as possible. We ran an open competition in 1998–99 to fill the post of Consul-General in New York. There is an open competition currently in progress for the posts of Deputy High Commissioner Mumbai (Bombay), Consul-General Toronto and Consul-General Sao Paulo.