§ Mr. Peter BottomleyTo ask the Prime Minister which advertisements for Civil Service positions other than for departmental heads of information require applicants to be in sympathy with Ministers. [15731]
§ The Prime MinisterThere is no question of appointments to the permanent Civil Service requiring applicants to be in sympathy with Ministers. The first Civil Service Commissioner in a recent letter to the press has emphasised that candidates for advertised posts are judged solely on their merits in the context of the job specification. Recruitment to the Civil Service follows the fundamental principle of selection on merit.