§ 43. Mr. HINDSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether retired civil servants are at liberty to criticize Departmental policy in the public Press without running any risk of being penalised by doing so?
Mr. YOUNGA retired civil servant is not debarred from giving expression to his views on public affairs in the Press or elsewhere, subject, of course, to his not infringing the statute law, and more particularly the Official Secrets Act, 1911. The Government relies on the discretion of its former servants to avoid the publication of matter which, though not confidential, may be prejudicial to the public interest.