§ 70. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the dissatisfaction which has been occasioned in the Civil Service by reason of the action of the staff side of the Civil Service National Whitley Council, in approving of the action taken by the General Purposes Committee during the general strike, when it called upon all civil servants not to volunteer for any emergency duties for which volunteers were asked in the national interest; whether he is aware that out of 27 members composing the staff side of the Civil Service National Whitley Council 13 are not civil servants at all; and what action it is proposed to take to protect the Civil Service from being exploited for political purposes?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Ronald McNeill)The answer to the first and second parts of the question is in the affirmative. With regard to the last part, I cannot for the moment add anything to the reply which has been given to previous similar questions, but I hope to be able to make a statement on the subject before the House rises.
§ Sir W. DAVISONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the very serious dissatisfaction among members of the Civil Service, and, seeing that it has been the proud boast of the Service for so many years that they are not influenced by polities but only by their duty to the State, is it not very urgent that this matter should be dealt with as soon as possible?
§ Mr. McNEILLI think I know as much on that subject as my hon. Friend can tell me, and more.