§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the appointment of the chairman of the Yorkshire Electricity Board as a policy adviser to the Conservative Party conflicts with paragraph 2 of "Political Activities: Rules for the Guidance of Members of Public Boards", in which the whole-time board members are advised to abstain from controversial political activity.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Energy whether the chairman of the Yorkshire Electricity Board sought guidance from him, as provided for in "Political Activities: Rules for the Guidance of Members of Public Boards", prior to becoming a policy adviser to the Conservative Party.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish in the Official Report the guidance given to members of public boards on appointment entitled "Political Activities: Rules for the Guidance of Members of Public Boards".
§ Mr. BennThe guidance is as follows:
Political Activities: Rules for the Guidance of Members of Public Boards
- i. Members of the Boards, whether whole-time or part-time, should not serve as officers carrying out executive duties in any political Party.
- ii. Whole-time members should abstain from controversial political activity.
- iii. Subject to i. above, part-time members should be free to engage in any political activities, provided that they are conscious of their general public responsibility and exercise a proper discretion, particularly in regard to the work of the Boards of which they are members. On matters affecting that work they should not normally make political speeches or engage in other political activities.
- iv. Members of Boards, whether whole-time or part-time, who are also Members of the
680 House of Lords will no doubt be guided in their conduct in that House by the statement made by Lord Addison in the House on 21st March 1951. - v. All members of the Boards should be free to maintain associations with Trade Unions (Co-operative Societies, trade associations, etc., to the extent that such associations do not conflict directly with the interests of the Boards to which they belong.
- vi. Any member of a Board who is doubtful about the application of these rules, or about the propriety of any political activity, should seek guidance from the Minister responsible for his Board.
- vii. The foregoing rules apply equally to political activity on behalf of any of the political Parties.
§ Mr. Maddenasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will draw the provisions of "Political Activities: Rules for the Guidance of Members of Public Boards" to the attention of all whole-time and part-time Board members whom he is responsible for appointing.
§ Mr. BennThis is done at the time of each individual appointment, and the observance of the rules is a matter for the discretion of those to whom they apply.