Propriety and Ethics

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Civil Service

The Propriety and Ethics team advises the Head of the Home Civil Service, Ministers and departments on a wide range of issues relating to standards of conduct for the Civil Service. It is in particular responsible for:

• The Civil Service Code, a concise statement of the role and responsibilities of civil servants. (It forms part of the Civil Service Management Code, a much longer document setting out the central framework for management of the Civil Service);
• Civil servants' involvement in political activities - this forms Section 4.4 of the Civil Service Management Code [External website].

We also produce guidance on the conduct of civil servants in the run up to Local and National Elections including the General Elections. Election guidance.

The team also produces guidance a wide range of civil service issues which can be obtained on the Guidance page of this site.