APPOINTMENT OF MR IAN JONES

Early day motion 700, tabled 21 January 2002 by Mark Prisk (Conservative). Signed by 14 members.

That this House is dismayed by the report in the Evening Standard of 21st January that the Secretary of State for Transport, Local Government and the Regions has blocked the appointment of the career civil servant Ian Jones as head of media in his Department; notes that his preferred choice, Ms Ann Wallis, is an outsider who is a friend and former colleague of Jo Moore; urges him to abandon this further attempt at politicisation; and fears that if successful, this will bury the impartiality of the Civil Service.

Signatures by party: Conservative 13, Labour 1.