72. Mr. Glenvil Hallasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he now has any statement to make on the political activities of civil servants.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterYes. Following on the conclusions of the National Whitley discussions, the Government have reached decisions on this subject. These are set out in a White Paper, which will be available in the Vote Office this afternoon.
The subject is too complex satisfactorily to be dealt with in a reply to a Question, and I would ask hon. Members to study the White Paper. The conclusions reached provide for freedom to take part in certain political activities for substantially more civil servants than under the existing regulations without, in the view of the Government, prejudicing in any way the political impartiality of the Civil Service, to the maintenance of which the Government attach the greatest importance. As an appendix to the White Paper there is printed the report of a Committee composed of members of both sides of the National Whitley Council, whose discussions have been of great value to the Government in coming to a conclusion on this important subject.