Vetting Social Media Accounts Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Vetting Social Media Accounts

Baroness Hayman Excerpts
Wednesday 21st June 2023

(10 months, 3 weeks ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Neville-Rolfe Portrait Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Con)
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I entirely agree with my noble friend. The balance between free speech and Civil Service impartiality is exactly what we are trying to strike.

Baroness Hayman Portrait Baroness Hayman (CB)
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My Lords, I am slightly confused. I am no expert on this issue, but am I right in interpreting the noble Baroness as saying that the guidelines in the Library apply only to cross-departmental diversity networks, that diversity network events in a single department are not subject to these guidelines and that a department could decide not to follow them for its internal activities?

Baroness Neville-Rolfe Portrait Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Con)
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The guidelines apply to cross-government diversity networks and they should follow the guidelines, although, obviously, there can be local interpretation.