Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what his policy is on allowing civil servants to speak at (a) commercial and (b) voluntary sector conferences in a (i) personal and (ii) trade union capacity.

The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of all civil servants. Civil servants are required to fulfil their work duties and obligations responsibly. Decisions on civil servants’ speaking attendance at any conferences are made on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with the Civil Service Code. Civil servants should not engage in activities likely to call into question their political impartiality.