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| Scottish independence: UK department denies advising 'No' vote | Scottish independence: UK department denies advising 'No' vote |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A Whitehall department has denied advising its staff to vote "No" in the Scottish independence referendum. | A Whitehall department has denied advising its staff to vote "No" in the Scottish independence referendum. |
| A memo issued to employees at the Department of Work and Pensions was described by unions as "badly worded". | A memo issued to employees at the Department of Work and Pensions was described by unions as "badly worded". |
| Written by permanent secretary Robert Devereux, it described as "legitimate and necessary" civil servants' support for the UK government's position. | Written by permanent secretary Robert Devereux, it described as "legitimate and necessary" civil servants' support for the UK government's position. |
| A spokesman for the DWP said "of course" staff in Scotland had not been told how to vote. | A spokesman for the DWP said "of course" staff in Scotland had not been told how to vote. |
| The memo said: "It is important that, as civil servants, we understand why the Scottish independence referendum is different from elections such as a UK General Election or a European Election. | The memo said: "It is important that, as civil servants, we understand why the Scottish independence referendum is different from elections such as a UK General Election or a European Election. |
| "This is because the UK Government has a clear position to maintain the Union and so it is legitimate and necessary for UK civil servants to support the Government in this objective." | "This is because the UK Government has a clear position to maintain the Union and so it is legitimate and necessary for UK civil servants to support the Government in this objective." |
| A spokesman for the DWP said the letter simply set out referendum guidance. | A spokesman for the DWP said the letter simply set out referendum guidance. |
| But a Whitehall source told the BBC: "It is very badly worded. It's meant to be about what staff might be asked to do in their day job - writing a brief or commenting on policy. | But a Whitehall source told the BBC: "It is very badly worded. It's meant to be about what staff might be asked to do in their day job - writing a brief or commenting on policy. |
| "But you can understand why some, perhaps more junior civil servants, in the DWP in Scotland might think they were being advised how to vote. | "But you can understand why some, perhaps more junior civil servants, in the DWP in Scotland might think they were being advised how to vote. |
| "It would be read very differently in Whitehall, but it just shows that the department needs to be more aware of the sensitivities of this issue. | "It would be read very differently in Whitehall, but it just shows that the department needs to be more aware of the sensitivities of this issue. |
| "It's typical of the lack of understanding in Whitehall departments on this issue. I'm surprised that they issued this the way it is written." | "It's typical of the lack of understanding in Whitehall departments on this issue. I'm surprised that they issued this the way it is written." |
| A Scottish government spokeswoman said: "As part of the Edinburgh Agreement, both the UK and Scottish Governments have committed to restrictions on publications in the 28 days before the referendum. | |
| "The restrictions mean that in this period, publications and public-facing activity on referendum issues will take place on a campaign or party footing, and not through government. | "The restrictions mean that in this period, publications and public-facing activity on referendum issues will take place on a campaign or party footing, and not through government. |
| She added: "Civil servants continue to operate normally, serving the government in line with the Civil Service Code." | She added: "Civil servants continue to operate normally, serving the government in line with the Civil Service Code." |
| A spokesman for the Yes campaign said: "If information being handed down to civil service staff by senior colleagues is being interpreted by them as being told how to vote in the referendum then clearly it would be wise for the information to be reviewed." | A spokesman for the Yes campaign said: "If information being handed down to civil service staff by senior colleagues is being interpreted by them as being told how to vote in the referendum then clearly it would be wise for the information to be reviewed." |