§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether, as reported in The Times of 11th July 1996, complaints have been made by senior civil servants under pressure from Ministers "to prepare material for election manifestos, alter official reports to provide a party political slant, give briefings on political responses to Opposition policies and Opposition speeches, supply material subsequently used in party election broadcasts and write political speeches when political advisers, who are not civil servants, are absent", and if so, whether such complaints are well founded.
§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether it would be in accordance with the duties and responsibilities of Ministers as set out in Questions of Procedure for Ministers and the Civil Service Code for Ministers to ask civil servants to prepare material for election manifestos, to alter official reports to provide a party political slant, to give briefings on political responses to Opposition policies and Opposition speeches, to supply material subsequently used in party election broadcasts, or to write political speeches when political advisers are absent.
Earl HoweParagraph 3 of the Civil Service Code, which came into effect on 1st January 1996, reiterates certain duties and responsibilities of Ministers as set out inQuestions of Procedure for Ministers, including the duty not to use public resources for party political purposes, and to uphold the political impartiality of the Civil Service. Ministers are expected to act in accordance with these duties and responsibilities.