asked the Minister for the Public Service the civil servants of the clerical classes and of the non-manipulative and sub-professional classes that have been declared to be engaged in a particular category of work which makes them ineligible for freedom to engage in political activity.

Since March 1974, civil servants in the clerical grades, and in other non-manipulative grades with salary maxima not exceeding the clerical officer maximum, have been free to apply for permission to engage in politics, subject to the proviso that the Minister for the Public Service might direct that permission should not be granted in the case of officers employed on particular categories of work. To date, no such application from the staff concerned has been refused because of the type of work performed by the applicant.

676.

asked the Minister for the Public Service the date, extent and result of reviews of the position relating to the freedom of civil servants to engage in political activity which have taken place since 6 March 1974.

The rules governing the imvolvement of civil servants in political activity, as amended by Government decision in 1974, were reviewed in 1979 by the Government, who decided that no further changes should be made at that time.