§ 7. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why, in the classification into categories under Command Paper No. 8783, he has found it necessary for nearly 11,000 out of 28,000 of his staff, who fall into the intermediate group, to require to seek permission individually to engage in any of the political activities for which members of the group are eligible, whereas in one Government Department only 12 out of the 21,435 are so required and in another only 1,834 out of 34,000 are so required.
§ Mr. PeakeBecause of the large proportion of the staff in question whose duties bring them into contact with the2W public. This follows the recommendations of a joint committee appointed by the National Whitley Committee to consider the matter.