Staff (Political Activities)

HC Deb 15 November 1950 vol 480 cc1697-8

4. Surgeon Lieut.-Commander Bennett

asked the Postmaster-General at what level in his Department the ban on spare-time political activity is applied.

Mr. Ness Edwards

Restrictions on political activities apply to staff above first-line supervisors in the minor, manipulative, engineering and allied grades. They apply without exception to other grades, the bulk of which are common to all Government Departments.

Surgeon Lieut.-Commander Bennett

What is the reason for this distinction, apart from the obvious one of restricting activities to the proletarian level?

Mr. Ness Edwards

It has been held for a very long time in this House that high-grade civil servants ought not to interfere in political life.