Its nonsense, especially when you CTC, SC, have worked for big reputable companies for donkeys years. Given that there is no chance anyone would name someone likely to give a poor reference, that in perm land any departures that are done with bad blood usually end up with a compromise agreement including a pre agreed reference, that most of the big multi nationals refuse to give anything but a bog standard confirmation you were there, that bosses move one, and so on and so on. References serve no useful purpose whatsoever. And if its genuinely a govt client they can look up where youve been easily if they really want to. It sure doesnt stop folk lying on their CV's as I can see from several idiots I have worked with.