§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what section of the Civil Service code of conduct membership of a trade union may be deemed as an offence; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RentonThere are no such instructions in the Civil Service code. However, in relation to GCHQ, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, acting in pursuance of article 4 of the Civil Service Order in Council 1982, gave instructions on 22 December 1983 that the conditions of service of employees at GCHQ should be varied so that they should not be members of any trade union other than a departmental staff association approved by the director. The staff regulations applicable at GCHQ have been appropriately amended. Any breach of those conditions may be liable to disciplinary proceedings.
§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if disciplinary procedures at Government communications headquarters beginning on 19 May will be conducted within the framework of the Civil Service code of conduct; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RentonThe disciplinary procedure applying in these cases will be that contained in the existing departmental regulations. However, the recently revised provisions of the Civil Service pay and conditions of service code will also be applied where they increase the protection of the individuals concerned.
§ Dr. McDonaldasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, pursuant to the Answer of 12 May, Official Report, column 350, he will make a statement on the advice given by the director of Government communications headquarters to the head of the Civil Service on appropriate penalties for those who have rejoined a union there.
§ Mr. RentonDiscipline at GCHQ is a matter for the director. I have nothing further to add to the answer I gave on 12 May to the hon. Member for Hammersmith (Mr. Soley) at column350