HL Deb 04 July 1973 vol 344 c376WA
LORD NAPIER AND ETTRICK

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have any Statement to make on the position of Peers who are civil servants.

LORD WINDLESHAM

There is a long-standing convention in the Civil Service which is stated in the Civil Service conditions of service and rules of conduct (Estacode) as follows:—Peers and Peeresses—Civil servants who are Peers or Peeresses of Parliament may attend in their place in the House of Lords when their official duties permit but may not take part in debate or vote until they have resigned or retired.

In order to avoid any risk of breach of the privileges of this House, I propose that this rule should be deleted from Estacode. Peers or Peeresses who are civil servants will, however, continue to be governed by the rules applying to all civil servants in the matter of political speeches and other activities.

House adjourned at seventeen minutes past seven o'clock.