To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what (a) consultations she held and (b) representations she received on the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007 (i) prior and (ii) subsequent to its introduction; and if she will make a statement. (129714)

The European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007 was drawn up after extensive consultation exercises within Government and with the support of the Council of Civil Service Unions. These also involved bilateral meetings between senior officials from the Cabinet Office and those Departments and agencies responsible for 98 per cent. of all reserved posts. Cabinet Office officials continue to liaise with departments and agencies while the new arrangements are being put in place.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what steps she is taking to publicise the effects of the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007 to (a) potential civil service recruits and (b) the public; and if she will make a statement. (129715)

The civil service recruitment gateway, the guidance on the civil service nationality rules and the civil service management code are currently being revised to reflect the new arrangements under the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007 and will be placed shortly on the Cabinet Office website. Central guidance on the new legislation was issued on 6 March by the Cabinet Office to HR directors and chief executive officers throughout the civil service to allow them to amend their recruitment literature.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what guidance she has issued to Government Departments following the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007 on the employment of (a) non-Irish EEA nationals in a public service reserved post, (b) an alien in any civil service post without a certificate and (c) an alien spouse of a UK national in the civil service; and if she will make a statement. (129716)

The European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007 has no effect on the position of (a) non-Irish EEA nationals in public service reserved posts, (b) an alien in the civil service without a certificate issued under the Aliens' Employment Act 1955, and (c) an alien spouse of a UK national. They remain ineligible.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what Government policy is on employment of (a) Commonwealth, (b) Irish and (c) EEA nationals in the Civil Service, following the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007; and if she will make a statement. (129717)

Commonwealth, Irish and EEA nationals are already eligible to apply for all non-reserved posts in the Civil Service. The European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007 defines more clearly the categories of post which may be reserved. It is anticipated that, following the Order, something in the region of a further 70,000 posts in the Civil Service will be open, in addition to UK nationals, to Commonwealth, Irish and EEA nationals.

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, what assessment she has made of the effect of the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007 on the (a) number and (b) percentage of posts reserved for UK nationals; and if she will make a statement. (129720)

It is anticipated that the number of posts reserved for UK nationals will be reduced by about 70,000 following the European Communities (Employment in the Civil Service) Order 2007. This represents a reduction of 13 per cent. against the previous number of reserved posts within the Civil Service.