Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 27 May 2016 to Question 38068, what assessment he has made of the implications for securing the Government's policy objectives at EU level of fewer (a) junior and (b) senior level staff employed in the European Commission who are UK nationals.

It is in UK interests for British officials to be well represented in the EU Institutions. UK experience and insight can add real value to the EU Institutions’ policy and legislative development. The EU Staffing Unit, established in April 2013, promotes EU careers across the UK and supports candidates through the application process. It has increased secondments in positions of strategic importance to the UK. The European Fast Stream within the Civil Service has also been re-launched.