HC Deb 26 March 1979 vol 965 cc12-3W
32. Mr. Molloy

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement regarding the suspension of civil servants employed by the Scottish Office.

Mr. Charles R. Morris

The Government's position is that where civil servants are in breach of a substantial obligation under their conditions of service such as would entitle an employer to dismiss for the breach the Government will not be prepared to accept this situation and, rather than exercise their power to dismiss them, will refuse them their pay and exclude them from their place of work accordingly. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland decided that this action should be taken in relation to 50 staff of the Scottish Office who refused to undertake the manual work appropriate to their grades which was necessary to prevent hardship to retired teachers, dependants of deceased teachers and others who would normally receive payments from the Scottish Office computer.