§ Mr. Sedgemoreasked the Prime Minister (1) if she will issue guidance to Government Departments regarding the use of civil servants in drawing up political tactics in respect of the progress of Government legislation in Parliament;
(2) what instructions she has given regarding the part that should be played by civil servants in respect of the progress of the Rates Bill through Parliament.
§ The Prime MinisterIt is an established principle that the Government should not ask civil servants to do anything which may call into question their political impartiality. But civil servants may properly be used to help explain Government policies, counter misinformation about them, and also to advise Ministers on their public presentation. Such advice must inevitably take account of the political context in which the Government's policies are operating.
§ Mr. Sedgemoreasked the Prime Minister what representations she has received about the use of civil servants in political tactics regarding the Rates Bill.
§ The Prime MinisterNone.
§ Mr. Sedgemoreasked the Prime Minister what responsibilities she has given her press secretary regarding the part played by civil servants in respect of the progress of the Rates Bill through Parliament.
§ The Prime MinisterOne of the duties of my chief press secretary, like that of his predecessors, is the co-ordination at official level of the presentation of Government policies and measures.