§ 40. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Minister of Agriculture why, in the classification into categories under Command Paper No. 8783, the number of civil servants in the intermediate group who are given standing permission to engage in all political activities for which members of the group are eligible is only two-thirds, whereas in another Government Department the figures are 21,423 out of 21,435.
§ Mr. NugentMost of the staff in the intermediate group in my Department who have not been given standing permission to engage in political activities, are employed in county agricultural executive committees and other local offices. Their work often involves close and special contacts with the farming public and with local authorities. It is therefore desirable to consider individually applications by these Civil Servants to undertake political activities.