§ Q34. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Prime Minister whether his Press Officer is classified as a civil servant; and, as such, whether he is prevented from making private and personal comments to the Press and media on Government policy and barred under the Civil Service rules from writing books and broadcasting on matters connected with his Government appointment.
§ The Prime MinisterMy chief Press secretary is a civil servant. As such, he is covered by the provisions of the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code, in particular those relating to general principles of conduct, the disclosure of information and political activities. Under the latter provisions, serving civil servants in the politically restricted group, which includes my chief Press secretary, are prohibited from speaking in public in their personal capacity on matters of national political controversy and expressing views on such matters in letters to the press, or in books, articles or leaflets. A copy of the code is in the Library.