§ Mr. PETHERICK(by Private Notice) asked the Prime Minister whther he has any statement to make as to the threatened stay-in strike by civil servants?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have been asked to reply. References have been made in the Press to the legal position in this matter. I have not taken, nor do I feel it necessary to take, advice on the legal aspect, as the practical question which arises is not one of law. Civil servants are engaged for the purpose of faithfully and conscientiously discharging the duties entrusted to them; and a civil servant who seeks to indulge in a "stay-in strike" or in other tactics of a like character renders himself liable to instant dismissal. There must be no misunderstanding on that point. I am sure that the Civil Service in general resents the statements issued by the Civil Service Clerical Association which cannot fail to create misunderstanding in the mind of the public and to bring undeserved discredit on the Service. The membership of this particular association comprises, of course, only a small proportion of the total Service. With regard to the claims of the association in connection with which the references have been made, I would add that facilities exist in the Civil Service for the submission to the Industrial Court of claims of this nature in which discussions and negotiations under the Whitley system of procedure have failed to produce an agreed settlement. The association are fully aware that this is the position.
§ Mr. KIRBYMay I ask whether what the right hon. Member says applies to the Civil Service generally, applies to the Prime Minister to-day?