§ Q7. Mr. Molloyasked the Prime Minister what further discussions he has had with the Staff Side of the Civil Service regarding charges made on the integrity of civil servants.
§ The Prime MinisterNone, Sir.
§ Mr. MolloyWould the right hon. Gentleman take this opportunity of completely dissociating himself from and condemning the views of his right hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Powell) who has hurt and damaged the good name of the British Civil Service? Further, has the Prime Minister had an opportunity of checking the 755 article in the Economist which I and a number of my colleagues sent to him and which he said he would examine?
§ The Prime MinisterI have constantly said that if there is any evidence to substantiate the charges it must be produced. It would then be investigated. The right hon. Member the present Leader of the Opposition said exactly the same thing during the General Election campaign. As to the Press cutting which has been sent to me, there is no evidence in it to support the charges made. There is, therefore, nothing to investigate. I have repeatedly reaffirmed the confidence of this Administration and myself in the Civil Service and its integrity. As I told the House, I did so at the opening of the Civil Service College at which senior civil servants were present. That deals entirely with the point the hon. Gentleman has made.