§ Mr. Cryerasked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will confirm that the Civil Service rules preclude gifts to wives and that rules covering Ministers exclude such a provision; and if he will now ensure that gifts to Ministers' wives come under the same restrictions as those for Ministers.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisIt is a well-established and recognised rule that no Minister or civil servant should accept gifts or services which would, or might appear to, place him under an obligation to any member of the public or organisation with whom he is brought into contact. Although the guidance given to Ministers, unlike the rules for civil servants, does not explicitly mention gifts to a Minister's family, the same principles apply in both cases to gifts to wives.