HC Deb 19 November 1953 vol 520 cc1906-7
56 Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) to what Government Departments Establishments Circular No. 21, issued by the Treasury on 11th March, 1952, have been circulated; and how many civil servants were affected;

(2) what discussions have taken place between the Treasury and the national staff side on matters dealt with in Establishments Circular No. 21, dated 21st March, 1952; and

(3) whether he will place in the Library of the House a copy of Establishments Circular No. 21, issued by the Treasury on 11th March, 1952.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

A Treasury circular was issued to all Government Departments in March, 1952, after discussions with the National Staff Side, setting out the current procedure for checking the liability of a limited number of staff employed on exceptionally secret work, especially work involving access to secret information about atomic energy.

As requested by the hon. and gallant Member, I am placing a copy of this circular in the Library. As the hon. and gallant Member will see when he looks at paragraph 3 of the circular, the number of posts affected is about 3,000 plus the posts involving access to classified information about atomic energy.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Am I to assume from that reply that this circular will contain the annexure to it containing the questionnaire which had to be filled up by the persons concerned?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I think when the hon. and gallant Gentleman looks at the circular he will find that all he wants is there. If not, perhaps he will put down a further Question.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

But does it include the annexure?