HC Deb 10 July 1941 vol 373 cc306-7
42. Mr. Mander

asked the Minister of Information whether all persons employed under him are bound by the usual Civil Service rules?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Information (Mr. Harold Nicolson)

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Mander

Is it not one of those rules that the Civil servants in a Department are not allowed to criticise the Department, and therefore, was it in order for one of the chief officials of the hon. Gentleman's Department to criticise the Government, and say that the Department had been given a pitchfork to deal with a tank?

Mr. Nicolson

The British Civil Service is an organism and not a machine. It owes its vitality to the fact that even its most rigid rules are sometimes violated.

Mr. Mander

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the particular statement was not a proper one to be made by an official of his Department?

Mr. Nicolson

In the circumstances, I think the statement was of public value.

Mr. Mander

Is it to be understood that in future officials of the Department may make statements of that kind without any restraint?

Mr. Nicolson

A very exceptional official and in very exceptional circumstances.