HC Deb 27 October 1982 vol 29 cc1038-40
42. Mr. Cryer

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will review the rules governing civil servants taking paid appointments outside the Civil Service.

Mr. Hayhoe

Apart from a slight modification in 1980 these rules were last revised in 1975. The Select Committee on the Treasury and Civil Service took evidence on this subject and made a number of suggestions in its fourth report. The Government have responded to all those and will consider any further comments or recommendations which the Committee might make before deciding upon the details of any changes to the present rules.

Mr. Cryer

Is it not time that something was done about senior civil servants, such as permanent secretaries and their ilk, who retire at the top of the tree and take up lavishly paid jobs when they have a lavish index-linked pension, and who are bought only because of the expertise and knowledge that they gained in Government service? For example, Sir John Garlick has obtained a directorship with the Abbey National building society. Surely that should be stopped, because it brings suspicion upon practising civil servants that they are arranging for a good job when they leave.

Mr. Hayhoe

The relevant rules were revised and put into effect by the Labour Government of which the hon. Gentleman was a Member. Provided that there is no suspicion of impropriety, it is in the public interest that pag p 8people with experience of public administration should be able to move into business and industry. The continual sly sniping at senior public servants who have served Britain with diligence and distinction is unfounded.

Mr. Forman

Instead of worrying about people who leave the Civil Service to take up jobs in the private sector, as the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Cryer) does, would it not be far better for my hon. Friend to encourage more people from the private sector to bring their talents into the Civil Service, and to create more movement between the two sectors?

Mr. Hayhoe

It is highly desirable that there should be greater two-way traffic between the Civil Service and the private sector of industry and commerce. That would be beneficial for all concerned.

Mr. Joel Barnett

What rules has the Minister laid down for positive vetting when appointing civil servants? Is there any truth in the reports that civil servants are now being told, during positive vetting, that they must agree with the Government's monetarist policies?

Mr. Hayhoe

As the right hon. Gentleman well knows, questions concerning security are not for me.

Mr. Wrigglesworth

In view of what some of us regard as the disgraceful decision of the former Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police to sell his memoirs at a very high price to a Sunday newspaper, will the Minister consider, with the Home Secretary, whether the rules relating to civil servants could not be extended to some other senior public servants, who should not take such action?

Mr. Hayhoe

This may be the last Question Time of the Session, but to ask about matters that concern my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and the Metropolitan Police is to go somewhat wide of the Civil Service.