Letter to the Rt Hon Jack McConnell MSP from the Clerk of the Committee

The Foreign Affairs Committee considers the scrutiny of the appointment of individuals outside the diplomatic service to senior diplomatic posts to be an important part of its remit. Members of the Committee have therefore taken a close interest in the announcement that you will become the next British High Commissioner to Malawi when the current High Commissioner's posting ends in 2009.

In its annual report on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Annual Report 2006-07, the Committee expressed its intention to hold a hearing with you before you take up your new post.^[1] I would like to invite you to come and give oral evidence to the Committee on Wednesday 26 March at 2.30pm.

I look forward to hearing from you.

December 2007

[1] Foreign Affairs Committee, First Report of Session 2007-08, Foreign and Commonwealth Office Annual Report 2006-07, HC 50, paras 199-200