§ 53. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will now publish a table showing the total number of civil servants in each Department; the numbers who are now allowed to take part in all political activities; the number allowed to take part in certain political activities, and how this restriction applies; and the number who are not allowed to take part in any political activities at all as a result of Command Paper No. 8783.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterNot yet, Sir.
§ Mr. FreemanWhen will this information be available? The Command Paper was issued nearly six months ago. This information is necessary, otherwise the Command Paper is a farce.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe hon. Gentleman will appreciate that this is a matter, first, of classification of the categories concerned, followed by discussions with the Departmental Whitley Council in every Department. It inevitably takes some little time.
§ Dr. KingCould not the Minister save himself a lot of work by remembering that civil servants are British citizens like everybody else and ought to have the full political rights of British citizens?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI do not think that I need the hon. Gentleman's reminder, nor do I think he needs the reminder that Governments of all parties in this House have realised the enormous value of a Civil Service which not only is but appears to be wholly politically impartial.