To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether the (a) issue and (b) content of departmental press releases is subject to a code of conduct. (273263)

All Government communications activity is subject to strict propriety guidance, which, along with the Civil Service Code, defines how civil servants can properly and effectively present Government policies and programmes.

Copies of the communication propriety guidance have been placed in the Library of the House, copies of the Civil Service Code are available in the Library of the House and can be found at:

http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/Assets/cs_code_tcm6-2444.pdf