HL Deb 10 November 2003 vol 654 cc168-9WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether Ministers of the Crown have a duty to respect the independence and impartiality of the Civil Service. [HL5151]

Lord Bassam of Brighton

Sections 1 and 5 of the Ministerial Code make it clear that Ministers must uphold the political impartiality of the Civil Service and not ask civil servants to act in any way which would conflict with the Civil Service Code.