HL Deb 17 February 1999 vol 597 cc80-1WA
Baroness Pitkeathley

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What advice has been given to civil servants on the conduct of government business during the forthcoming elections to the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales and local councils in England on 6 May, and to the European Parliament on 10 June. [HL1117]

The Lord Privy Seal (Baroness Jay)

The Government have issued guidance to civil servants on the principles which they should observe in relation to the conduct of government business in the period before the forthcoming elections.

The guidance stresses that civil servants should conduct themselves in accordance with the Civil Service code and is based on the need to maintain political impartiality of the Civil Service and the need to ensure that public resources are not used for party political purposes.

The guidance will come into force on 13 April for the 6 May elections and on 20 May for the 10 June elections.

Copies of the guidance have been placed in the Libraries of the House.