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Scottish independence: UK department denies advising 'No' vote Scottish independence: UK department denies advising staff to vote 'No'
(35 minutes 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 for Work and Pensions was described by unions as "badly worded".A memo issued to employees at the Department for 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 the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) said the memo was "poorly written, ill-judged and patronising".
"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. PCS Scottish Secretary Lynn Henderson said: "This is a very sensitive issue north of the border and one in which civil servants are all too aware of from both the UK and Scottish governments' respective positions on independence. They remain bound by the civil service code.
"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. "The wording of this memo is not only clumsy but it also seeks to blame lower-graded civil servants for not understanding the instruction on how to conduct themselves as civil servants, rather than as voting citizens in a democracy. I suspect that the intent may have backfired somewhat."
"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."
Dave Penman, general secretary of the civil service union the First Division Association, said the memo was "factually correct" but could be interpreted differently by staff working at different levels and in different parts of the UK.Dave Penman, general secretary of the civil service union the First Division Association, said the memo was "factually correct" but could be interpreted differently by staff working at different levels and in different parts of the UK.
He added: "I think perhaps the tone and content of the memo has been a little ill-judged in dealing 70,000 staff in DWP across the country." He added: "I think perhaps the tone and content of the memo has been a little ill-judged in dealing with 70,000 staff in DWP across the country."
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.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."