§ Mr. Marksasked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) why Mrs. Joyce Butler, a Civil Service clerical officer, who wrote to her Member of Parliament, the hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, about the threatened closure of the Manchester occupational guidance centre has been threatened with disciplinary action; and if he will make a statement;
(2) under what regulations Mrs. Joyce Butler, a clerical officer at the Manchester occupational guidance centre, was called before a disciplinary hearing for writing to her Member of Parliament, the hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton, about the threatened closure of the centre.
§ Mr. MayhewI am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that Mrs. Joyce Butler, a clerical officer in the occupational guidance unit at Manchester, was interviewed recently by her personnel manager. During the interview she was reminded that in accordance with the staff rules designed to maintain the impartiality of the service and issued to all new recruits, she should not discuss368W official information or attempt to bring political influence to support any personal claims as a civil servant.
The Manpower Services Commission has now written to Mrs. Butler explaining the reasons for the interview and withdrawing any implication that the interview constituted disciplinary action in any sense. This letter has been copied to her trade union.
The Manpower Services Commission fully endorses the right of its staff to make representations to their Members of Parliament on matters of Government policy and other issues, subject only to the safeguards contained in the staff rules.