Written question asked by John Bercow (Conservative) on Monday, 27 July 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 31 July 1998. It was answered by Tony Lloyd (Labour) on Friday, 31 July 1998 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will comment on the security vetting procedures for the selection of United Kingdom candidates for the European Community's senior staff; what level of staff are involved; and what political opinions on the European Union are held to invalidate candidature.

Answer: Mr. Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the security vetting procedures for the selection of United Kingdom candidates for the European Community's senior staff; what level of staff are involved; and what political opinions on the European Union are held to invalidate candidature. [53772] Mr. Tony Lloyd: The Commission of the European Communities and the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) are the only EC offices that impose personnel security obligations on member nations. Security vetting is a requirement for all UK nationals directly recruited for work at the Commission and is the responsibility of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Staff are cleared to SECRET level following a request from the Commission on the basis of personal particulars provided by the candidate on a completed security questionnaire. The procedure is broadly similar to the process for SC clearance in respect of UK Civil Servants as set out in the then Prime Minister's Statement on Security Vetting dated 14 December 1994. For the EC, it involves a check against the National Collection of Criminal records and a check against Security Service records. No account is taken of a candidate's political opinions.

Secondary information