This book is part of a series called Public Administration in the 90s , which aims to provide informed and critical comment on recent developments in the public sector and to identify key issues in public administration for the beginning of the next century. The ethics of public servants is a key issue in today’s society. This book explains and analyzes important ethical problems of public service in modern democracies and offers suggestions for reform and development. It brings together the thoughts of academic specialists in the field, and subjects discussed include codes of ethics, how ethics can be taught, the dilemma of tragic choices, administrative discretion and the protection of human rights, secrecy and freedom of information, and the interests of the State. Sir Brian Bubbon, previously Permanent Secretary at the Home Office contributes the practitioner’s perspective. This book should be useful to students at undergraduate and postgraduate levels in public administration, public policy, public sector management, public law, business and management studies. It should also be of use to government officials, civil servants and politicians.