§ 61. Sir WILLIAM COLLINSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the recommendations contained in paragraph 25 of the Fourth Report of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service, 1914 [Cd. 7338], in reference to the right of Civil servants to join trade unions and associations, the recognition of such associations, and their affiliation to a political party; whether any action has been taken in regard to these recommendations; and whether they will be considered by the Interdepartmental Committee which is about to consider the applicability of the principle of establishing joint standing councils to the case of the Civil Service?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe Interdepartmental Committee will no doubt consider the recommendations referred to so far as they are strictly relevant to the inquiry.
§ Sir W. COLLINSDoes not the right hon. Gentleman realise that the questions raised in the Report of the Royal Commission on the Civil Service lie at the root of the problem of applying the principle of standing joint councils?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWYes; I do realise it, but, as my hon. Friend knows, this is a Committee composed entirely of Ministers, and they will naturally deal with the whole subject so far as it is necessary to do so.