§ 9. Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Deputy Prime Minister what responsibility he has for the co-ordination and presentation of Government policy on standards in public life. [11307]
§ Mr. FreemanMy right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister has general responsibility for the workings of the Government and the presentation of their policies. That includes their policies on standards in public life.
§ Mr. HughesThat is a helpful answer. Do the Deputy Prime Minister and his colleagues accept that one of the best guarantees of the highest standards in public life is the independence of the civil service, whoever are the Government of the day? Does the Chancellor of the Duchy accept that, in that context, it would be a good policy to entrench the rights of civil servants in law? Does he agree that there must be a proper procedure whereby civil servants who think that they are improperly requested to act by Ministers can go public when they believe that it is in the public interest to do so?
§ Mr. FreemanI confirm on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, who is technically the Minister for the Civil Service, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister and all members of the Government that it is extremely important that our civil service—the best in the world—should not only be independent of any political party, but be seen to be, and provide fearlessly objective advice to Ministers. I firmly believe that, as do all Ministers.
On 1 January, we published a code of practice for civil servants, which I believe has the force of law. It provides a complaints mechanism for civil servants right up to the civil service commissioners, at which stage matters can be made public. That mechanism is available to civil servants if they have concerns. Surely it is better to make concerns and complaints known in that way than to speak to a public newspaper without the facts being properly described.
The Government have an open mind on legislation. At the appropriate time, whether it be in debate or during private conversations, I am happy to carry forward any concerns that the code may not be as effective as some hon. Members believe, and about whether it would be right to incorporate those concerns in legislation. It is—[HON. MEMBERS: "Come on."] I am making a formal offer and repeating what I have said twice before on legislation to protect the civil service.
§ Sir Patrick CormackDoes my right hon. Friend agree that one development that has slightly tarnished the wonderful reputation of our civil service in recent years is the proliferation of leaks?
§ Mr. FreemanThe process of good government—I am sure, in all seriousness, that the occupants of the Opposition Front Bench will agree with this—is not served by leaks by anyone, whether he or she is in the civil service, in the public service or anywhere else.