Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Whistleblowers in the Civil Service

Thursday 25 July 2024 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The Cabinet Office provides support through a framework that includes guidance on raising concerns safely and practical assistance for whistleblowers.
  • The government is working to improve the experience of whistleblowers and will introduce a duty of candour Bill to enhance transparency and accountability.
  • The government supports whistleblowers and acknowledges the importance of addressing the issues raised by statistics.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem Bath
Standards & Ethics
Context

The National Audit Office reported that 50% of civil servants feel it is unsafe to challenge governmental practices and fear negative consequences for speaking out. The report also highlighted the need for better handling of government failures.

Question

What steps are being taken to protect whistleblowers in the civil service given the recent National Audit Office report indicating a lack of safety for those raising concerns and highlighting issues with how government failures are addressed?

Answer from Georgia Gould

The Cabinet Office provides support through a framework that includes guidance on raising concerns safely and practical assistance for whistleblowers. The government is working to improve the experience of whistleblowers and will introduce a duty of candour Bill to enhance transparency and accountability, as mentioned in the King's Speech.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The establishment of an office dedicated to whistleblower rights was not addressed.

How: Looking Into The Statistics That You Mentioned And What Is Causing Those Problems

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Q2 Wera Hobhouse Lib Dem Bath
Standards & Ethics
Context

The National Audit Office highlighted that 50% of civil servants do not feel safe raising concerns due to potential negative consequences.

Question

Given the National Audit Office's findings, will the Government establish a new office for whistleblowers to create legal rights and promote awareness?

Answer from Georgia Gould

Whistleblowing is crucial. The government supports whistleblowers, acknowledges the importance of addressing the issues raised by statistics, and commits to continuing efforts on this agenda despite ongoing discussions about fraud protection measures.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Establishing a new office for whistleblowers was not addressed.

How: We Are Looking Into The Statistics That You Mentioned And What Is Causing Those Problems

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