McConnell faces questions over his Malawi role

Jack McConnell is to be grilled by MPs later this month on his forthcoming role as Britain's High Commissioner to Malawi.

The former First Minister will give evidence to the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee on April 23. He was appointed to the role after being nominated by Tony Blair, the ex-Prime Minister, in August 2007 and is due to take up his post next year.

The committee said Mr McConnell's appearance before it was "in accord with the committee's previous decision to conduct scrutiny of the appointment of individuals outside the diplomatic service to senior diplomatic posts".

Among those who will question the ex-First Minister will be committee member Sir Menzies Campbell.