HL Deb 03 May 1985 vol 463 cc478-9

11.27 a.m.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what communication they have received from the Civil Service Commissioners relating to the salary, appointment and terms of contract of the recently appointed Head of the Government Arms Procurement Programme.

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, as my right honourable friend the Prime Minister has explained in another place, the Civil Service Commissioners indicated that, in the particular circumstances obtaining, they were satisfied that the appointment of Mr. Levene should proceed without the issue of a certificate of qualification under the provisions of Article 1(2)(g) of the Civil Service Order in Council 1982. Questions of salary and conditions of service are not matters for the commissioners.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, I am grateful to the Minister for that reply. Is he not aware that job interchange between private industry and the Civil Service is acknowledged and accepted by everyone, but that there are certain rules that should have been adhered to involving the Civil Service Commissioners which according to the Prime Minister were not adhered to in this instance? In her words, there were technical illegalities. Is the noble Lord aware that this can only damage good relations between the official side and the staff side? Can the Minister not declare today that every endeavour will be undertaken to see that these infringements will not occur again?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, it is the case that it was originally thought that it would not be necessary to refer this matter to the Civil Service Commissioners because the original intention was that this should be on the basis of secondment. As a matter of fact, the Civil Service Commissioners thought that, too. I do not therefore think that the problem that the noble Lord indicates will arise.

Lord Beswick

My Lords, will the noble Lord confirm that in the case of civil servants who may wish to take up a commercial appointment on leaving the service, certain restrictions very properly apply? Can the noble Lord say whether the same restrictions apply to this very sensitive post; and if not, why not?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, if the noble Lord is referring to what Mr. Levene may do when he ceases to occupy this post, the answer is that, yes, then restrictions will certainly apply.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, does the noble Lord not agree that the matter has not been handled properly? On the one hand there is this enormous salary paid to the individual involved; and, on the other hand, an enormous increase in unemployment with nurses, doctors, junior doctors and other people who serve the health services being held to minimum wage increases. Does the noble Lord not agree that if there had been a proper relationship all the way through there would not have been the disgruntlement that now exists not only in the Civil Service but in other great departments of state?

Lord Trefgarne

My Lords, I am bound to say that I cannot immediately see the relevance of that observation.