§ Mr. Spearingasked the Prime Minister if he will state in the Official Report the present criteria used by the Diamond committee concerning its recommendations on commercial appointments from the Civil Service prior to and after retirement, respectively; and if he will now review any such criteria.
§ The Prime MinisterThe criteria are laid down in the rules on the acceptance of outside business appointments by Crown servants, a copy of which is in the Library. These rules are concerned with the acceptance of business appointments by senior civil servants after retirement or resignation. The rules were reviewed in 1975 and the Government will continue to watch how they are working.