HC Deb 06 March 1888 vol 323 cc383-4
MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR (Donegal, E.)

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether all members of the Civil Service are at liberty to belong to Home Rule Organizations or Associations, provided they do not take an active part in public meetings?

THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)

The General Rule which I mentioned, yesterday as governing the behaviour of Civil servants applies, of course, to all purely political organizations. The Question of the hon. Member, however, is so wide that it may apply to organizations which are opposed to the law of the land; and it must be distinctly understood that while a wide discretion, is left to Civil servants as to the Political Organizations to which they may belong in their private capacity, they are not at liberty to join any Association which is illegal.

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

Is the House and are the Civil Service clerks to understand that every member of the Service is at liberty to belong to any Political Organization provided that that Organization is not illegal, and provided also that they do not take part in public meetings, and that the same Rule exists in all the Departments of the Public Service?

MR. W. H. SMITH

I think, Sir, that I cannot go beyond the answer that I have just given. Rules are laid down by the Heads of the different Departments for the guidance of the Public Service and to prevent scandal in the Public Service. They are, undoubtedly, applicable in all Departments to all, from the highest to the lowest, in the Public Service, and all must be aware whether they are infringing the Rules or not.

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

Considering the nature of the answer I think I am entititled to ask a further Question. The right hon. Gentleman spoke of the Rules laid down by the Heads of the different Departments. I would ask, whether the same Rules are laid down with reference to the different Departments of the Civil Service; or whether there are some Rules for some Departments and others for others?

MR. W. H. SMITH

I believe the Rules is spirit are the same in the different Departments; but they are different in words.