Gestapo Watch - Soldiers need MoD permission to contact MPs

[TonyGosling]

Military chief defends edict restricting contact with MPs
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/may/28/military-chief-restrict -contact-mps
Advice restricts members of armed forces from talking to MPs – even informally – without permission of government minister
Nick Hopkins, security editor - guardian.co.uk, Monday 28 May 2012 06.00 BST
The head of the British military has stepped into a growing row over a "gagging" edict which restricts members of the armed forces from talking to MPs – even informally – without the express permission of a government minister.
The chief of the defence staff, General Sir David Richards, insisted the advice was necessary, and was merely a reminder of the rules governing private meetings between officers, parliamentarians, and other public officials.
But some Labour MPs, including the shadow defence secretary, Jim Murphy, say the MoD is trying to stifle criticism during a turbulent period. They fear it is an attempt to gag officers from speaking out about problems in the services.
The dispute was provoked by a Defence and Instructions Notice (DIN) recently circulated to all service and civilian personnel.
The document stated that "all contact between the department and parliamentarians must be authorised in advance through ministers, their private offices, or the MoD parliamentary branch."
It added: "Unless authorised by ministers in advance, meetings, either formal or informal, between parliamentarians and members of the armed forces, or MoD civilians to discuss defence business, are not permitted. Any unplanned or unexpected meeting should be immediately reported to the appropriate minister's office."
The guidance has angered some members of the defence select committee, who say officers have been forced to cancel meetings, or suggested they be rearranged away from Westminster so they weren't caught.
"Members of the select committee rely on being able to talk to people to get a wider view of how policies are being played out, and to hear the internal debates," said Madeleine Moon, MP for Bridgend.
"It is surprising how many people have said to me that we cannot meet you, or have asked to go somewhere they cannot be recognised. It is bizarre how people are feeling constrained. As a woman, and as a Labour MP, I have had to make new contacts. The Tories rely on their friends in the military to tell them what is going on. I think these kinds of restrictions make the MoD look very foolish. We are in a very bizarre place at the moment."
Gisela Stuart, another Labour member of the defence select committee, said she lived in a block of flats and alongside members of the military.
"Are they supposed to tell the MoD every time we bump into each other in the lift?" she said. "The MoD cannot do anything to prevent MPs meeting members of the military."
The clampdown has also affected Murphy. He was a regular visitor to the MoD's main building in Whitehall when Liam Fox was secretary of state.
Despite their differences on policy, Fox also sanctioned briefings on Libya, Afghanistan and Baha Mousa, and gave Murphy advanced warnings on statements relating to Trident and the inquiry into the 1994 Mull of Kintyre helicopter crash. In the seven months since Philip Hammond took over, Murphy hasn't been inside the MoD once. On one occasion, Labour was given 30 seconds notice before Hammond gave a statement to parliament.
Murphy said the new attitude "seems to reflect a lack of confidence at the heart of the MoD." He added: "This is a significant and unwelcome change which will affect MPs of all parties. No single government owns the military, which belongs to the country.
"Ministers should not try to gag those who serve, who have a right to discuss defence matters with parliament. It is vital that MPs can have a dialogue with our Armed Forces, respecting national security, in order to hold the government to account."
The MoD denied the new DIN was more restrictive. "If military personnel were having unauthorised meetings with MPs in the past, they were breaking the rules," said one official.
Rather than 'whistleblowing', they should report to their commanding officers and go through authorised channels.
In a statement to the Guardian, General Richards added: "It is very important for us to maintain good relationships with MPs and others in society. We do this by holding many engagement opportunities and ensuring that all parties have access to the level of understanding they require. However, as is the case for any disciplined organisation, this requires a coordinated approach with certain rules to guide our conduct and to ensure we remain within established security guidelines.
"The Permanent Under Secretary and I reminded our staff of these rules recently."
The MoD said the DIN "does not seek to constrain a member of the Armed Forces or MOD civilian contacting their constituency MP on a purely personal matter. This means that an individual remains free to raise with their constituency MP matters directly concerning, for example, their personal pay, allowances or accommodation."

[fish5133]

Havent they heard about "leaking" ?