§ 2. Mr. David Howellasked the Minister for the Civil Service to what extent the pace of implementation of the Fulton Report by his department will be affected by the work of the Constitutional Commission.
§ Mr. HowellIf the Constitutional Commission is a serious undertaking, surely its concern must be closely with matters that are also discussed in the Fulton Report, in particular, the constitutional position of Whitehall, the powers of civil servants and the structure of the Civil Service. I do not see how these things can be separated. Surely they must be taken together?
§ Mrs. HartThe hon. Member appears to be overlooking the fact that the whole purpose of this post-Fulton exercise is to create a Civil Service which is flexible 915 and adaptable. That purpose being achieved, the Civil Service should be quite capable of adapting to whatever proposals may be made by the Constitutional Commission.