§ 68. Mr. Tony BanksTo ask the Minister for the Civil Service what guidance is given to civil servants with regard to their duties and responsibilities relating to attendance on official business at party conferences.
§ The Minister of State, Privy Council Office (Mr. Richard Luce)It is an established principle that civil servants should not engage in activities likely to call into question their political impartiality.
§ Mr. BanksMay I tell the Minister that that is a thoroughly unsatisfactory and complacent reply, given the way in which the Government have blurred the distinction between Civil Service and party political activity, the most blatant example being the party political use of press officers? Will the Minister assure the House either that he will give instructions to Ministers not to use civil servants in the party political way that they do, particularly in respect of attendance at the Conservative party conference, or that he will come to the House and make proposals for a politicised Civil Service, honestly done, on a spoils system, because that is what we are going towards?
§ Mr. LuceI do not know what the hon. Gentleman is getting at when he refers to attendance at the Conservative party conference. If he has an allegation to make against a particular Department or Secretary of State, he should make it directly and substantiate such charges. There are 17 clearly laid down rules and a copy of the establishments officer's guide is available in the Library and can be referred to. It is up to my right hon. Friends to stick to those rules.
§ Sir Geoffrey FinsbergWill my right hon. Friend confirm that the instructions and guidelines to civil servants include the fact that they should not steal documents and send them to the Labour party?
§ Mr. LuceMy hon. Friend makes a point. It is remarkable for the hon. Member for Newham, North-West (Mr. Banks) to suggest that rules are being transgressed, for example, at the Conservative party conference, without substantiating his allegations.