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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office: Recruitment

Asked by Sir John HayesConservativeForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled Answered 18 March 2026UIN 119205

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether any civil servants hired by her Department were recruited over another person on the basis of a protected characteristic in each of the last three years.

Answered by Seema Malhotra

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office recruits on the basis of fair and open competition in line with the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles, as it did throughout the period of the previous administration. There has been no change to HR recruitment processes since the current Government took office. On the specific question asked by the Rt Hon Member, I refer him to the answer provided on 3 March to Question 114470.

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