Food Standards Agency

Mr. Gibb
To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the Food Standards Agency recognises the International GCSE as an acceptable substitute for a GCSE for the purposes of recruitment.

Caroline Flint
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) would recognise the International GCSE as an acceptable qualification for the purposes of recruitment.

When recruiting employees from outside the civil service the FSA adopts the framework laid down by the Civil Service Order in Council 1995. This sets out the principle of fair and open competition and selection on merit. We make clear in the relevant job description the qualifications, skills, experiences and personal qualities needed. All applications are then considered against the criteria.