Cabinet Office: The Propriety and Ethics Team

Related Links

• Parliament
• Public Administration Select Committee
• The Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration
• The Committee on Standards in Public Life
• Ministerial Responsibilities

Civil Service Ethics and Standards

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 responsible for:

• North East Referendum Guidance (PDF 172kb)
• Civil Service Guidance - Directory of - a compendium of Civil Service guidance Volume 1 [PDF 322 KB] | Volume 2 [PDF 309 KB]
• 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);
• The Model Contract for Special Advisers - setting out the principal terms and conditions of employment for Special Advisers to Ministers; including a Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.
• Guidance for civil servants involved in Government Communication activities - Propriety guidance for civil servants, including Press Officers, involved in government communication activities.
• Guidance for civil servants: Contacts with Lobbyists
• Civil servants' involvement in political activities - this forms Section 4.4 of the Civil Service Management Code .   In the run-up to an election, additional guidance is produced as a reminder.   This guidance, covers the local council and the Greater London Authority election campaigns. Election guidance.
• Liaison between Government and the Committee on Standards in Public Life.