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Page 225
For
“A Handbook 436tf 66 Civil Servant" issued byag?fear366 all Depart-
th
ments, contains the following paragraph :-
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. A civil servant must not take any open part in political controversy, even if he is not thinking of standing for Parliament. This does not mean that you may not have your private political opinions, that you may not vote at an election, or even that you may not belong to a political party; but it does mean that you must not do anything which might cause the general public, who do not know you, to doubt whether you can be an impartial servant. It makes no difference, of course, which political party you adhere to; the party which forms the Government to-day may be in opposition next year, or next week, and if your loyalty to the Government is not doubted now it may be doubted then."
APPENDIX 6
LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES
EXAMPLES OF EXISTING RULES. APPLICABLE TO NON-INDUSTRIAL
General
GRADES
"It will rest with the Head of each Department to determine whether, and if so, upon what_conditions an officer of his Department may become a candidate for, or serve on, any Local Council, provided that the duties involved in such candidature or service shall not conflict with the personal performance of the officer's duties to the Department." (Treasury Circular of 15th November, 1909.)
Admiralty
"The permission of the Board must be obtained if any officer serving under the Admiralty wishes to stand as a candidate for membership of a County Council, municipal body, etc."
Air Ministry
"(a) Civilians employed in Air Ministry establishments may not hold municipal appointments or parochial offices, or any public situation, except as stated in sub-paragraph (b).
(b) They may become candidates for, or serve on, a County Council, District Council, Parish Council, Borough Council or an Education Committee. With regard to these appointments the policy is to allow civilians reasonable facilities for serving, even although the hours of meeting of Councils_or Committees may conflict with the working hours of the establishment; but the Air Ministry reserve the right to require a civilian to retire from any such Council or Committee if it is found that his membership requires him to be absent from official duty during ordinary working hours and that this involves serious inconvenience to the public service.”
Central Office of Information
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1. Members of the staff are reminded that they may not stand in Local Government elections, or serve on Local Councils or Council Committees, without the Department's permission, for which they must apply to Establishment and Organization Division.
2. There are reasons special to the work of the Information Services for withholding permission as a general rule, except for industrial staff, typists, messengers, etc. Permission, however, will not be refused to retiring Councillors wishing to stand for re-election to the same Council.
3. Co-option to the Committees of Local Authorities will in general be permitted."
Customs and Excise
"The Board's permission is to be obtained before any officer accepts any corporate office or appointment as a Justice of the Peace or becomes a candidate for, or serves on, any Local Council, Board, or Committee. Applications are to contain a full statement of duties of such office, candidature or service, and the times and place at which the meetings are held."
Ministry of Education
"Officer of the are not permitted to serve any CountyfGongcil, Borough
on
Board." Council, District Council or Parish Council; without the sanction of the Board."
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Ministry of Food
66
105
Officers of the Ministry of Food are not allowed to become candidates for County Councils or Progeu2 Conglor to serve in any municipal goffice without special permission obtained in each case from Establishments Department Headquarters. They are not precluded from serving on District Councils (except in the case of Divisional Food Officers, Food Executive Officers and their staff who must obtain special permission as indicated above) or on Parish Councils, if the meetings are held at such times that attendance will not interfere with their official duties."
Ministry of Health
No member of the staff may become a candidate for membership of any County, Borough, District or Parish Council, or serve as a co-opted member of any Committee of such Councils." (This rule does not apply to Minor and Manipulative staff or to Typing grades.)
Inland Revenue
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The permission of the Board must be obtained before a serving officer becomes a candidate for election to any Local Government body. Permission will not normally be withheld in the case of an officer stationed within the Metropolitan Area."
Ministry of Labour and National Service
"Officers of the Ministry of Labour and National Service are not allowed to become candidates for County Councils or Borough Councils. They are not allowed to become candidates for other Councils or accept municipal office except with the consent of the Permanent Secretary."
Post Office
"An officer of the Department may become a candidate for, or serve on, any County, Municipal or Local Council provided that the duties involved in such candidature or service do not conflict with his duties in the Department. If the duties are found to conflict, the officer will be required to resign from the Council."
Ministry of Town and Country Planning
There is no written Departmental rule, but applications to stand for election to Councils of Local Authorities have been refused.
Ministry of Transport
"No member of the staff may become a candidate for membership of any County, Borough, District or Parish Council, or serve as a co-opted member of any Committee of such Councils without first obtaining the permission of the Head of the Department. Each application will be treated on its merits, but it must be understood that permission will not normally be given to officers serving in branches which are brought into relationship with Local Authorities."
War Office
(a) All Headquarters staff:
"By the terms of Treasury letter No. 22247 of 15th November, 1909, it rests with the Permanent Under-Secretary to determine whether and on what con- ditions a civil servant may become a candidate for, or serve on any local council. An essential condition would be that the duties involved in such candidature or service should not conflict with the performance of the official's duties in the Department.
Special leave with full pay, up to a maximum of 12 days in each leave year, is granted to members of Town and County Councils and of Urban and Rural District Councils, for the purpose of attending Council meetings. Such leave may be taken in half days."
(b) Civilian staff at War Department Outstations :
"Employees may serve on a local council on the understanding that member- ship of such public body does not interfere with the efficient performance of their duties as employees of the War Department, and that the usual times of meetings do not conflict with working hours. If, however, a meeting has to be held during official hours, leave may be specially granted, provided that the work of the establishment will not suffer through the absence of the employee concerned.
Employees may not hold municipal or parochial appointments or any similar offices without War Office sanction."