§ MR. SNOWDENI beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether there is any rule which prevents Post Office employees taking an active part in the business of political clubs or organisations of which 1708 they happen to be members, provided they are not active participants in elections.
I beg also to ask the Postmaster-General whether it is to be assumed from his recent prohibition of three Manchester postmen taking part in a political meeting at a time when no election was in progress, that it is intended to prohibit Post Office employees becoming members of political clubs or organisations.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONI assume that in these Question the hon. Member refers to political clubs or organisations not consisting solely of Post Office servants. The rule applying to the Civil Service generally requires that Post Office servants as Civil servants should maintain a certain reserve in political matters. This rule precludes officials of the Post Office from taking a prominent part, or holding office, in such outside political clubs or organisations, but would not debar them from ordinary membership. As the Prime Minister has just stated, the whole question is to be considered by the Government.
§ MR. SNOWDENI beg to ask the Postmaster-General whether it may be taken that his recent statement that the disabilities which prevented Post Office employees from taking any part in county council elections have now been removed, means that Post Office employees may become candidates at such elections, provided the proper and efficient discharge of their duties as public servants is not imperilled.
§ MR. SYDNEY BUXTONThe Treasury rule applying to all Civil servants, which prohibits them from becoming candidates at county council elections, remains unaltered, but I lately abrogated a rule especially applying to Post Office servants and which prohibited them from taking any part in county council elections in the district in which their work lay.