whilst we are it babies
can we distinguish
PPS - parliamentary private secretary - electedMP on four year tenure
and PS, PUS ( permanent secretary, permanent under-secretary ) Mandarin ( high up civil service employee = haut fonctionnaire sort of).
Lord Foppington of the letter this am ( OK Lord macDonald of which I regret there are more than a few) was a PUS, PS and then head of the civil service.
just adding a bit of colour to the discussion
oh and who started - - if a minister lies I must speak out?
why - - - Clive Ponting who was indicted for spying over the Falkands and the sinking of the Belgrano