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Select Committee · Public Accounts Committee

Investigation into whistleblowing in the civil service

Status: Closed Opened: 10 Jan 2024 Closed: 28 May 2024 6 recommendations 18 conclusions 1 report

There continue to be issues with how whistleblowers can raise concerns in Government, as highlighted by both the Committee on Standards in Public Life in 2023 and the Boardman Review into the development and use of supply chain finance in Government in 2021 . The Committee’s 2014 and 2016 whistleblowing reports found that a lack …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Thirty-Sixth Report - Investigation into whistleblowing in … HC 457 25 May 2024 24 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 items
15 Conclusion Thirty-Sixth Report - Investigation int… Acknowledged

Mixed leadership role-modelling hinders supportive culture for raising concerns across civil service

The National Audit Office found a mixed picture when it reviewed the health check material against the ‘leaders role-model behaviour’ indicator which suggests senior leaders should role-model a supportive culture that gives people confidence to raise concerns.37 DWP noted that in large organisations such as itself and HMRC, the culture …

Government response. The Cabinet Office will continue to foster the sharing of whistleblowing best practice across the Civil Service, delivered a conference for policy leads, developed learning for departmental officers, and will work with departmental leads to commission a survey of whistleblowers.
HM Treasury
21 Conclusion Thirty-Sixth Report - Investigation int… Acknowledged

Cabinet Office shares whistleblowing good practice through annual conferences and online community hubs.

We asked the Cabinet Office how it currently shares good practice. The Cabinet Office told us it holds an annual conference where it brings together nominated officers (who support whistleblowers) and policy leads (who are responsible for the policy) and HR professionals.53 It also has an online hub community of …

Government response. The Cabinet Office will build on existing work to share insight and best practice, work with departmental leads to ensure senior leader oversight of cases, explore organisational learning, policies and procedures, continue with the annual whistleblowing event, consider the Department …
HM Treasury
23 Conclusion Thirty-Sixth Report - Investigation int… Acknowledged

Departments inconsistently apply whistleblowing guidance to their associated arm’s-length bodies.

The Cabinet Office guidance specifies that departments should cover their agencies as well as themselves when responding to health checks, but this is not followed by all 48 Qq 80, 82 49 Q 2 50 NAO insight - good practice guide, Whistleblowing in the civil service, 21 February 2024 51 …

Government response. The Cabinet Office will build on existing work to share insight and best practice, work with departmental leads to ensure senior leader oversight of cases, explore organisational learning, policies and procedures, continue with the annual whistleblowing event, consider the Department …
HM Treasury

Oral evidence sessions

1 session
Date Witnesses
17 Apr 2024 Esther Wallington · HM Revenue and Customs, Fiona Ryland · Cabinet Office, Helen Pickles · Department for Work and Pensions, Matthew Davies · Cabinet Office View ↗

Correspondence

1 letter
DateDirectionTitle
29 Apr 2024 — Correspondence from Jim Harra, Chief Executive and First Permanent Secretary, H…