HC Deb 26 January 1999 vol 324 cc202-3W
Mr. Laurence Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has issued to his Department's officials on the inclusion of party political material in correspondence; how he monitors the political impartiality of his officials with respect to the letters they send out; and if he will make a statement. [67153]

Mr. Straw

Civil servants are required under the terms of the Civil Service Code to conduct themselves with integrity, impartiality and honesty, and in such a way as to deserve and retain the confidence of Ministers and potential future Ministers. This is supported by a duty placed on Ministers not to use public resources for party political purposes, to uphold the political impartiality of the Civil Service and not to ask civil servants to act in any way which would conflict with the Civil Service Code.

If the hon. Member has a specific letter in mind and would like to give me the details I will of course consider the matter very carefully.

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