§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) what action he intends taking against those civil servants mentioned in reports of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration alleged to be guilty of maladministration and neglect, evasion of duty and deliberately losing papers and documents which they 630W knew would be self-incriminating; and when such action is likely to be taken;
(2) in view of the fact that the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration's Annual Report for 1977 shows that he investigated 91 complaints against 17 Government Departments and agencies and that of those complaints he found that in 33 such cases the complaints were wholly justified and that in a further 29 cases Departments concerned were criticised for their mistakes, what action he proposes to take to ensure an improvement during 1978.
§ Mr. Charles R MorrisIt is the responsibility of the Minister of the Department concerned to take whatever remedial action he considers necessary following an investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration, and my hon. Friend may be assured that Ministers are fully conscious of their responsibilities in this area.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister for the Civil Service in view of the growing number of official reports from the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration of gross maladministration and neglect in various Government Departments, including in some instances deliberate withholding and destruction of documents which can prove to be incriminating against the civil servant concerned, whether he will change the conditions of service of civil servants so that their disciplinary codes will warrant dismissal and prosecution in such cases.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisI would refer my hon Friend to my reply today to his other Questions concerning the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. It is already the case that disciplinary action may he taken against a civil servant who fails to observe the rules of conduct set out at paragraphs 9860–9999 ("General Principles of Conduct") of the Civil Service Pay and Conditions of Service Code, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.