CONFIDENTIAL
course, raises the problem of agreeing a Whitehall-wide definition of "positions of trust", but has the important benefit of consistency. We are concerned that we shall not have this if individual departments such as the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise are allowed too much leeway and consequently Departments apply different definitions of "public service".
If you cannot agree to move in the direction of uniformity we should want to discuss these issues again in an inter-Departmental meeting. We would prefer to try to resolve differences at official level before going to Ministers.
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CONFIDENTIAL