HC Deb 21 October 1954 vol 531 cc1367-8
21. Mr. Grimond

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the extension of the security check in the Civil Service.

Mr. H. Brooke

In 1952, the Government introduced a special security procedure for investigating the reliability of civil servants employed on exceptionally secret work. It was then estimated that, outside the atomic energy field, not more than 3,000 posts would be involved. Experience has shown that further posts need to be included in order to work to a consistent and reasonable definition of exceptionally secret work, and the revised estimate is that about 10,000 posts will be subject to this procedure.

Mr. Grimond

Can the hon. Gentleman tell us what departments are involved? Can he give an assurance that nobody in the Civil Service will be penalised merely because he holds Marxist opinions, unless there is some reason for thinking that he will take some action deleterious to the country as a result, or unless he is in an exceptionally confidential position?

Mr. Brooke

I could not give a Departmental answer without notice, but I can assure the hon. Gentleman that there has been absolutely no change in the policy which was announced 2½ years ago.

Mr. Emrys Hughes

Will this not mean a big increase in the Secret Service in order to screen the Civil Service? Will it not also mean an additional number of civil servants, whom the Government are pledged to reduce?

Mr. Brooke

I do not think so. The Secret Service is very efficient.

Mr. W. R. Williams

Would it be correct to assume that this increase in the numbers of people who are to be screened has been the subject matter of discussion with the Staff Side of the National Whitley Council?

Mr. Brooke

Yes, that is so.