Letter to Rt Hon The Baroness Amos from the Chairman of the Committee

 

Thank you for your swift acceptance of the Foreign Affairs Committee's invitation that you give oral evidence to us on your appointment as the UK's next High Commissioner to Australia. As I explained in my letter of 10 July the Committee would be grateful if you would provide us with written answers to a number of questions in advance of the session on 21 October:

 

1. How did you learn (a) that the post of High Commissioner to Australia would shortly become vacant, and (b) that you were being considered to fill the post?

 

2. Are you aware of the circumstances and process that led to the decision to ask you to take up the post of High Commissioner to Australia? Who approached you and when?

 

3. What are the terms and conditions of the appointment? On what date will you take up your appointment?

 

4. During the period of your appointment as High Commissioner, will you withdraw from participation in the work of the House of Lords? Will you seek formal Leave of Absence?

 

5. What is the extent of any previous connection with Australia?

 

6. Do you have any business or financial connections or other commitments that might give rise to a conflict of interest in carrying out your duties as High Commissioner to Australia?

 

7. How can you demonstrate that you have the skills and experience to perform a job that is normally performed by a career diplomat?

 

8. Are there any areas in which you feel you will need to develop your skills before tacking up this position?

 

9. Given your political background, do you think that you will find it difficult to work with a government of whatever party in an impartial civil service setting?

 

10. Do you anticipate that you will seek further employment with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office after your term has been completed?

 

11. What do you anticipate will be the key challenges facing the next High Commissioner to Australia?

 

7 August 2009

 

 

Letter to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs from the Chairman of the Committee

 

Appointment of High Commissioner to Australia

 

I write further to my letter of 10 July in which I informed you that the Foreign Affairs Committee intends to take oral evidence from Rt Hon the Baroness Amos following the announcement of her appointment as the next High Commissioner to Australia. In that letter I indicated that the Committee would be requesting written evidence from the FCO on this appointment. We would be grateful if a written memorandum on this appointment could be supplied which included answers to the following questions:

 

1. The Committee would be grateful to receive a note setting out the FCO's system for appointment of heads of mission. This should address, inter alia, the following questions:

 

· What is the process for appointing a new head of mission? How long does it normally take? Who is consulted? Are applications sought from existing staff? If so, what is the format of these applications?

 

· What are the criteria, both formal and informal, for appointment as a head of mission?

 

· Are Ministers involved in the choice of heads of mission? If so, to what extent, how and when?

 

2. Is it the practice for a head of mission to be consulted about the choice of his/her successor? Was the existing head of mission consulted before the appointment was made?

 

3. Are the views of the overseas government on the suitability of individual candidates sought, either formally or informally?

 

4. Is the FCO required to appoint heads of mission on a basis of fair and open competition? What is the legal basis, both past and present, for the appointment of a non-diplomat as head of mission?

 

5. Has the FCO assessed which Posts are or might be suitable for the appointment of a non-diplomat as head of mission?

 

6. Have guidelines been drawn up on the circumstances in which it might be appropriate to appoint a non-diplomat as head of mission? If so, please supply these to the Committee.

 

7. Please give details of any assessment carried out within the FCO of the performance in post of non-diplomats appointed as heads of mission since 1997.

 

8. Has any concern been expressed to the Government by the civil service unions about recent proposed appointments of non-diplomats as heads of mission? If so, please give details.

 

9. How did the proposal to appoint Baroness Amos as High Commissioner to Canberra originate? By whom was the decision to offer her the post taken, and on what advice? What process of selection or examination was she subject to? What qualifications does she have to make her suitable for appointment? When and by whom was the offer communicated to her?

 

10. What past experience does Baroness Amos have of Australian politics and culture, and of UK-Australian bilateral relations?

 

11. Please supply the Committee with full details of the proposed terms and conditions of service of Baroness Amos as High Commissioner. How will these differ from the normal terms and conditions of service of a career diplomat? Will this be a fixed-term appointment? What will be her salary and pension entitlement?

 

12. Baroness Amos will be the third High Commission to Australia in a row to have been appointed from outside the ranks of the diplomatic service. Why is Australia regarded as being particularly suitable for such appointments?

 

13. Has there been any criticism of the proposed appointment of Baroness Amos within Australia, from politicians, the media or others?

 

 

7 August 2009