78. Mr. S. O. Davieasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent prohibition now exists that precludes any member of the police forces from making representations to his Member of Parliament on any matter relating to the conditions of his employment; and when he proposes to remove such prohibition.
§ Mr. EdeUnder the police discipline code it is an offence against discipline for a member of a police force to divulge any matter which it is his duty to keep secret or, without proper authority to communicate to the public Press or to any unauthorised person any matter connected with the force. It would be for the local disciplinary authority to decide whether in any particular case there has been a breach of the code, but I do not regard it as a breach of discipline for a member of a police force like any other member of the public to write to his Member of Parliament about his conditions of service and, so far as my information goes, this is the view generally taken by police authorities and chief officers of police.