HC Deb 07 November 2002 vol 392 cc752-3W
Joan Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the brief was of the British civil servant who accompanied the Ghanaian delegation to the Doha talks. [78840]

Ms Hewitt

[holding answer 5 November 2002]: No British civil servant accompanied the Ghanaian delegation to the Doha talks. At the specific request of the Government of Ghana, a consultant working in the Ghanaian Ministry of Trade and Industry on a two-year long DFID funded Trade Policy Project accompanied the Ghanaian delegation. The consultant's role, as set out in an official statement by the Ghana Ministry of Trade & Industry in December 2001, was to observe the WTO process and analyse the issues for the Ghanaian Government. The consultant did not participate in any of the negotiations.

Joan Ruddock

To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how the staff of the World Trade Organisation are selected; and what the process was by which the deputy director generals were recently appointed; and if she will make a statement. [79193]

Ms Hewitt

[holding answer 6 November 2002]: WTO staff at all grades below Deputy Director General are selected on merit after open advertisement. Interviews are conducted by WTO management on the basis of staff rules agreed by WTO members.

The appointment of the four Deputy Director Generals is a matter for the Director General who makes his decision in consultation with WTO members.

The Director General is chosen by all WTO members, after a call for candidates, on the basis of consensus.