§ Mr. Prescottasked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to secure the withdrawal of the directive by the Manpower Services Commission that its staff cannot take annual leave to lobby their Member of Parliament on Tuesday 12 February; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Tom KingIndividual members of staff are in general entirely free subject only to normal operational requirements, to use their annual leave to go and see their Member of Parliament. However, it is established practice in the Civil Service under successive Governments, not to 703W grant annual leave to staff to take part in an organised lobby clearly forming part of an overall campaign of protest, which has already included industrial action.