§ Q1. Mr. Sheldonasked the Prime Minister what action he is taking to ensure that those appointed to the Civil Service 785 by his own authority do not engage in party political activity.
§ The Prime Minister (Mr. Edward Heath)There are well-known rules governing the political activities of civil servants which all are expected to observe.
§ Mr. SheldonWhile not wishing to limit the useful rôle played by outsiders coming into the Civil Service, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is aware that the full-time paid employment in the Civil Service of someone who has played a leading part in party politics in a prominent local authority is a departure from existing practice? Should not this departure be at least notified to the House?
§ The Prime MinisterUnder past Administrations people of known political views and activities have been brought into the Government. The rule is very clear, and it is that civil servants of the grade of executive officer and above may take part in local political activities with the permission of their department. As far as I know, this rule has been observed in every case. If people are taking part in local government or local activities, it is with the permission of their department.
§ Mr. Harold WilsonIs the Prime Minister aware that the rules clearly laid down by Lord Attlee's Government have been followed ever since and have been very strictly applied? Is he further aware that in the case of an appointment to No. 10 Downing Street on 1st January, 1969, an incoming temporary civil servant, who was a member of a local authority, not only was required to resign his seat on a local authority immediately, by my direction, but was not even allowed to attend the following evening to tender his resignation in person? Obviously there is a very big difference in the way in which this matter is being handled as between the Labour and Conservative Governments.
§ The Prime MinisterI do not think that there is any difference at all. I know nothing of the case to which the right hon. Gentleman refers. But it would appear that the person concerned must either have asked for permission to continue and have been refused or must have decided not to go on with his activities. Anyone engaged in local government activities or local political activities is fully 786 entitled to ask the department for permission to continue, and it must be the department which decides whether he can continue.
§ Mr. WilsonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I should be extremely happy if he looked up all the papers in that case? I will give him all the information he needs. Perhaps he will say whether anyone who has been at No. 10, in the Cabinet Office or the Treasury, in a senior administrative position, has not been required immediately to resign any local government appointment he held?
§ The Prime MinisterObviously I should have to search the records in order to answer that question. But the point of principle remains—that anyone below executive officer grade can continue his activities without permission, and that anyone of executive officer grade or above may, under the spresent rules, ask for permission to continue his activities, and it would rest with the head of the Government to decide whether it was appropriate for him to do so. That policy has been pursued.
§ Mr. WilsonThe rules have been applied very strictly by all Governments from Lord Attlee's day onwards. If it is a fact, as the right hon. Gentleman says, that he is using the discretion of giving or refusing approval in the way that he is doing, it is a very considerable deterioration in the standards which have been applied by every previous Government.
§ The Prime MinisterThese matters are decided by the head of the department and not by me as head of the Government. As far as I know, no case has been referred to me as head of the Government. The decisions have been taken in the normal way by the Departments concerned in any cases which have arisen.