§ 48. Mr. Manderasked the Prime Minister whether he will state precisely the present functions of Sir Horace Wilson as Government adviser?
§ The Prime MinisterSir Horace Wilson has since 1935 been seconded to the Treasury for service with the Prime Minister and First Lord. As the hon. Member is aware, the function of Crown servants, whether civil or military, is to carry out whatever duties may from time to time be allotted to them. I should like to take this opportunity of deprecating any departure from the well-recognised tradition which precludes public references—whether in this House, in the Press, or elsewhere—by name to individual officers of the Crown Services. The responsibility for all actions and decisions of Government rests with Ministers of the Crown alone, not with their advisers or agents; and it would be contrary to the public interest if the practice were to grow up of seeking to identify individual Crown servants with particular actions or particular developments of policy. Moreover, it is of the essence of our Constitution that officers of the public service should both be impartial and be recognised to be so, serving as they do with equal loyalty and zeal their political chiefs, of whatever party complexion. I would, therefore, appeal most earnestly to all concerned to assist in upholding this great and vital tradition of anonymity in respect of the performance by Crown servants of their duties.
§ Mr. ManderWill the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to say, bearing in mind the considerations he has brought out, whether, in paying his various visits to Germany in connection with foreign affairs, he could not find any official from the Foreign Office competent to advise him, and why he had to rely upon a civil servant, however efficient, who has spent his whole life at the Ministry of Labour?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Member is mistaken in thinking that I did not have an official of the Foreign Office with me.