§ Mr. Merlyn Reesasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what restrictions are placed on the political activities of employees of the public corporations which report to his Department.
§ Mr. John DaviesThe public corporations have been informed of the general principles which in the Government's view should govern the development of a code of practice in this matter. The broad effect of this is that most of their employees will be as free as those employed in other industries to participate without restriction in political activities. It is, however, desirable that the senior staff of the corporations should establish a tradition of public service irrespective of party allegiences, and it follows that they must exercise a measure of discretion in political matters which will prevent them from engaging in the more controversial forms of political activity.