JAUSTfAGUIDXELINES
TO APPLY TO APPEARANCES BY PUBLIC
SERVANTS AND OFFICERS OF STATUTORY AUTHORITIES
BEFORE PARTY CO DIITTEES
1. Ministers may authorise officers of their departments,
or of statutory authorities for which they are responsible,
to appear before Government and Opposition Party Committees
to provide briefings or background material on Government
or Ministerial decisions and proposals, including details
and/ or explanations of proposed legislation.
2. Briefing of this nature will be authorised on the
principle of promoting the freest possible flow of factual
and background material to permit informed consideration by
the committees and parties concerned of the issues involved,
consistent with preserving the necessary confidences of
Government and maintaining the traditional political
impartiality of officials.
3. Committee requests for briefing in the above terms
will be directed to the Minister concerned. If he agrees,
the Minister will authorise the department or authority to
put the necessary arrangements in hand. It will also be
open for a Minister himself to initiate proposals for
briefing of committees, where he considers this to be
desirable. 4. Officials will not be expected or authorised to
express opinions on Government policies, policy options or
matters of a party political nature. The discussions may
however include administrative arrangements and procedures
involved in implementation of existing or proposed policies*
or legislation. If matters are raised which in the judgement of
officials, seek expressions of' opinion of Government
policies or on alternative policies, as distinct from
factual explanations of existing or proposed policies, the
officials would suggest that those matters be -raised with
the Minister. / 2
f 6. Where considered necessary or desirable, Ministers
may elect to be present at discussions with Government party
committees, to deal with questions of a policy or party
political nature.
7. ' here the Minister does not attend the committee
proceedings, he will have the right to be kept informed by
officials of the nature of the discussions and of any
matters not able to be resolved by the officials to the
committee's satisfaction.
8. Where an official considers that questioning by a
committee goes beyond the authorised scope of the briefing
arrangements, he should so indicate to the committee, and
before answering will be at liberty to raise the matter with
the head of his department or authority, and the Minister,
and if he so desires, with the Public Service Board.
AJ A. . JL L 1. X2-. ViI'
19 SEPTEMBER, 1978) 2k-
PRIAM= MiNAISTER
GUIDELINES RELATING TO ACCESS BY MEMBERS OF
PARLIAM'* ENT TO PUBLIC SERVANTS AND OFFICERS OF STATUTORY
AUTHORITIES
1. Much will depend on the nature of the request.
There will, for example, be occasions when a request by a
Member of Parliament amounts to no more than a request for
readily available factual information. In these
circumstances, the information should obviously be provided.
2. There may be other occasions where, in the judgement
of officials, a Member's request raises sensitive issues, for
example, where expressions of opinion are sought on
Government policies or alternative policies, as distinct
from explanation of existing policies. Officials will not
be expected or authorised to express opinions on Government
policies, policy options or matters of a party political
nature. Information provided may, however, include details
of admhinistrative arrangements and procedures involved in
implementation of approved policies or legislation.
3. Where a request is made which seeks expressions of
opinion on Government policies or policy options, it would
be appropriate to suggest that the Member pursue the matter
with the Minister. Similar action would be appropriate if a
request raised other issues of a sensitive nature, or where
the answering of a request would necessitate the use of
substantial resources of the department or authority.
4. Care should be taken to avoid unauthorised
disclosure of classified or otherwise confidential information,.
for example, where a breach of personal or commercial privacy
could be involved.
An official should, as appropriate, inform the head
of his department or authority or Minister of a request for
information and of the outcome.
6. Where an official considers that the terms of a
request would require him to go beyond the authorised scope
of -the above arrangements, he should so indicate to the
Member, and will be at liberty to raise the matter with the
head of his department or authority and the Minister and.,
if he so desires, with the Public Service Board.