Council of Civil Service Unions v Minister for the Civil Service Prerogative. Despite an extensive publicity campaign by trade unions, the government refused to reverse its decision, instead offering affected employees the choice between £1,000 and membership of a staff association or dismissal. Those employees dismissed could not rely on an industrial tribunal, as they were not covered by the relevant employment legislation. As such, the Council of Civil Service Unions decided judicial review was the only available route. The decision to ban workers at GCHQ from trade union membership had been taken following the meeting of a select group of ministers and the prime minister rather than the full Cabinet.
The Challenge (Yes Minister) government usually rebound on Whitehall departments, which are then also forced to implement them. Sir Humphrey is fully seized of Sir Arnold's aims, but is advised — if things get tricky — to draw the Minister's attention to civil defence: the one area in which national government has little interest. Hacker concludes a meeting in his office, and is approached by one of the participants, Dr. Cartwright, an Under-Secretary who has become an expert in local government (and therefore shall rise no higher in the civil service). He proposes to the Minister that any future local authority projects must list