§ Dr. Julian LewisTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs pursuant to his answer of 17 September, 2003 ref.130397, on security clearance levels, for what reason locally-engaged personal assistants recruited by British embassies are subject to a lower vetting classification than the developed vetting required for UK-based personal assistants recruited for the same posts. [131695]
§ Mr. Mike O'BrienThe appropriate level of security clearance for locally engaged personal assistants is determined, in accordance with HM Government's statement of vetting policy, as announced to the House on 15 December 1994 (Official Report, columns 764–66). The levels required for staff both locally engaged and UK based, are based on the need for them to have access to classified material. The requirement 382W for such access for locally engaged personal assistants is usually different than for UK based personnel. In most cases locally recruited staff will not normally have access to classified material.