Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 29
29
Accepted
Government must improve valuing whistleblowers, addressing Sellafield mistreatment allegations.
Recommendation
The previous Committee took evidence on how the civil service responds to whistleblowing, and found that the government needs to do more to signal the value of whistleblowers.85 It is particularly important that everyone working on a site as hazardous as Sellafield feels free to raise any concerns they have. This Committee–and its predecessors–have received a number of letters from whistleblowers in recent years making serious allegations about how they have been treated by Sellafield Ltd.
Government Response Summary
The government agrees, stating the NDA has strengthened its Speak Up policy and will publish an annual "People" report by October 2026. This report will include staff survey results and Speak Up data to provide a contextualised view of cultural progress regarding whistleblowing.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: October 2026 The NDA is committed to maintaining a safe, healthy, and high-performing workplace where people can thrive. It has taken decisive steps to foster an open and respectful culture including strengthening the Speak Up policy (which includes whistleblowing). Improvements are reflected in recent staff survey results. Although the NDA is encouraged by this progress, it remains vigilant and continues working to ensure all employees feel respected and confident in raising concerns, and that these are addressed appropriately. While the publication of staff survey results without appropriate context can lead to misinterpretation, the NDA is keen to provide a more contextualised view of cultural progress. As such, the NDA will publish an annual “People” report containing information about staff survey results (including scores, narrative, trends), Speak Up data (including rates of reporting, types of matter raised, outcomes), and other matters which help assess the health of its corporate culture. Its approach to breaking down results by Operating Company and demographic will, of course, need to be guided by confidentiality of individuals, following best practice. It will consider potential inclusion of appropriate benchmarking. Nuclear safety is paramount, and rigorous standards are upheld to protect the workforce, the public, and the environment. The NDA is confident in the strength of internal safety metrics and reporting mechanisms which are underpinned by independent assurance from regulators. Regular group wide reviews of safety culture are carried out using verified external methodologies to test workforce attitudes and beliefs around reporting of events. The NDA will include relevant data in the “People” report.