Fast Stream Ethics & Civil Service Values 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a pre-election 'purdah' period, what restriction typically applies to civil servants?
- They must transfer all public communications management directly to ministers
- They are prohibited from speaking to journalists under any circumstances
- They should avoid making announcements or decisions that could influence the election outcome (Correct answer)
- They must take annual leave for the duration of the election campaign
Correct answer: They should avoid making announcements or decisions that could influence the election outcome
During pre-election periods, civil servants avoid making announcements, policy launches, or decisions that could be seen as influencing voters or benefiting any political party.
Question 2: A civil servant is offered an expensive gift by a contractor who regularly bids for government work. What should they do?
- Accept the gift if it is below a £50 threshold and not declare it
- Decline the gift or report it and seek guidance according to departmental policy (Correct answer)
- Accept the gift if it is given at a public event rather than privately
- Accept the gift but disclose it informally to a colleague
Correct answer: Decline the gift or report it and seek guidance according to departmental policy
Civil servants must follow departmental gifts and hospitality policies, which typically require declining gifts that could create a perception of impropriety, or formally declaring them.
Question 3: What is meant by a 'conflict of interest' in the context of civil service ethics?
- A legal dispute between a government department and a private company
- A disagreement between civil servants about the best policy approach
- A tension between following ministerial instructions and parliamentary scrutiny
- A situation where a personal or financial interest could improperly influence official duties (Correct answer)
Correct answer: A situation where a personal or financial interest could improperly influence official duties
A conflict of interest arises when a civil servant's personal or financial interests could improperly influence — or appear to influence — their official decision-making.
Question 4: Under the principle of 'impartiality,' what must civil servants ensure regarding their political views?
- They must declare any political donations made in the previous five years
- They must seek their Permanent Secretary's approval before voting in elections
- Personal political views must not influence their professional advice or decisions (Correct answer)
- They must renounce all personal political affiliations upon joining the civil service
Correct answer: Personal political views must not influence their professional advice or decisions
Impartiality requires that civil servants do not allow personal political views to influence their official advice or actions, enabling them to serve governments of different political parties.
Question 5: The Freedom of Information Act 2000 gives members of the public a right to do which of the following?
- Access all government documents without any exceptions whatsoever
- Demand oral explanations from civil servants about any policy decision
- Request information held by public authorities, subject to certain exemptions (Correct answer)
- Obtain personal files held on them by any company operating in the UK
Correct answer: Request information held by public authorities, subject to certain exemptions
The Freedom of Information Act gives people the right to request information held by public authorities, but this right is subject to exemptions protecting matters such as national security and commercial interests.
Question 6: Which legislation primarily protects civil servants who report suspected wrongdoing in the public interest?
- The Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010
- The Civil Service (Management Functions) Act 1992
- The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (Correct answer)
- The Official Secrets Act 1989
Correct answer: The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998
The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 provides legal protection for workers, including civil servants, who make qualifying disclosures of wrongdoing in the public interest.
Question 7: What distinguishes a Special Adviser from a permanent civil servant?
- Special Advisers are appointed by Parliament, not by the government
- Special Advisers are only permitted to work in the Treasury and Cabinet Office
- Special Advisers are not paid from public funds, unlike civil servants
- Special Advisers can be openly politically partisan, whereas civil servants must remain impartial (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Special Advisers can be openly politically partisan, whereas civil servants must remain impartial
Special Advisers are temporary civil servants explicitly permitted to be politically partisan and provide political advice, unlike permanent civil servants who must maintain impartiality.
Fast Stream Ethics & Civil Service Values 2
During a pre-election 'purdah' period, what restriction typically applies to civil servants?