Assistant Secretary,
An instance within the last few days, of which you are aware, shows how important it is that established administrative procedures based on decisions of the last Minister should not be followed automatically if they involve even the slightest policy considerations. No action should be taken on the basis of such procedures, however well and long established, unless, if they contain any element of policy, we are certain that the Minister approves of them.

The responsibility for giving practical effect to the foregoing instruction must rest primarily on the First Secretaries. They must look at the work passing through their hands critically in the light of the foregoing considerations and should not hesitate to submit for decision any point which, however well covered by precedent and previous decision, seems to involve policy considerations which the Minister might wish to review. The matter is one for individual judgment but it is better that the judgments taken should err on the side of caution, rather than otherwise.

You might please bring this minute to the notice of all officers of the Department likely to be concerned.