A Facebook lesson for Sir Humphrey: Senior civil servants get social network training

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Ministers hope the younger generation will 'enlighten' their bosses on how to engage with the social networking sites.

Cabinet Office minister Tom Watson yesterday said Whitehall mandarins had been given new guidelines 'to encourage civil servants to take the first steps to engage with online social networks'.

Yes Minister: Nigel Hawthorne (L) played the civil servant Sir Humphrey Appleby in the classic BBC series. Many top civil servants are perceived to be out of touch.

He told the Commons: 'There is an incredibly large number of young people, digital pioneers across the civil service who perhaps are junior in status and one of my jobs is to try and join them all up so they can perhaps enlighten their counterparts in more senior positions.'

The rules are meant to help officials 'speak with an authoritative voice' online.

Tory MP Peter Bone asked Mr Watson whether the new guidelines covered sending sensitive material to ministers.

Mr Watson said: 'There won't be any top secret documents placed on Facebook.'