article_snippet: A ban on civil servants talking to journalists without prior ministerial approval will ‘intimidate’ them into silence, critics said last night.
article_snippet: Civil Service Code has been revised, with the threat that officials could be sacked if officials speak out before checking with a minister.
article_snippet: A line has been added to Civil Service Code, saying:
article_snippet: Ensure you have ministerial authorisation for any contact with the media.
article_snippet: A source at the Cabinet Office – which is in charge of the Civil Service – insisted the move was an attempt to increase ministers’ accountability of civil servants in ministers department.
article_snippet: But Dave Penman of the FDA union, which represents Whitehall officials, said the move was an ‘unnecessary, unworkable and unjustified restriction’.
article_snippet: The public has a right to open and transparent public services, yet this change now requires ministerial authorisation before a civil servant can respond or make any contact with the media – from a prosecutor being asked for comment outside of court, to a job centre manager dealing with a local news story,’ a civil servant added.
article_snippet: ‘Guidance to regulate contact between civil servants and the media is already in place and we can see no justification for this sudden, drastic change, other than intimidating civil servants into silence … this knee-jerk decision seems to have only been made to sate unfounded and misguided ministerial mistrust.
article_snippet: ’ Mark Serwotka, of the Public and Commercial Services Union, said the ban was an attempt to ‘prevent public servants from telling the truth about government policy, by a minister who has already admitted a civil servant wants to do as much damage as possible before a civil servant steps down by making a civil servant reforms
article_snippet: The extension to the Civil Service Code means the Government has effectively ordered more than 400,000 people not to talk to reporters without the Government approval.
article_snippet: A spokesman for Cabinet Office said the rule ‘clarifies’ an existing requirement that civil servants must ‘clear material for publication in advance’.
highlights_snippet: Ban prevents civil servants from talking to journalists without approval .
  
highlights_snippet: Critics warned this will 'intimidate' Critics into silence and is 'unnecessary'
  Line added to Civil Service Code says must have 'ministerial authorisation'
  Move was overseen by Sir Jeremy Heywood, Head of Home Civil Service .
  