[Escapee]

The rules around accepting freebies need to be cleared up, perhaps the same rules should apply to all public servants.

I have been on a number of overseas trips with civil servants attending, and on every occasion they have been very wary of accepting any hospitality.

I have experienced instances where they have contacted their organisation to check if they are allowed to accept an invitation to go out for a meal in the evening, and I have also experienced instances in the US where I have gone out in the evening with the supplier for ribs or a steak etc, and the civil servant has declined to attend for fear of getting into trouble.