Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Accepted
Cabinet Office lacks systematic assessment of departmental whistleblowing data quality and completeness
Conclusion
The Government People Group (within the Cabinet Office) does not systematically assess the departments’ returns for completeness or quality or to assure the adequacy of 7 HC Committee of Public Accounts, Making a whistleblowing policy work: progress update, Twenty-ninth Report of Session 2015–16, HC 602, March 2016 8 Q 1 ; C&AG’s Report, para 1.6, Figure 2 9 C&AG’s Report, para 3.2 10 C&AG’s Report, para 15 11 Q 58 12 Qq 2, 71 13 Q 60 14 C&AG’s Report, recommandation a 15 Qq 61, 62 16 Q 83, C&AG’s Report, para 20 17 Qq 83, 92, 93 10 Investigation into whistleblowing in the civil service whistleblowing arrangements across government.18 So we were interested to hear how the Cabinet Office uses its central role to gain assurance and identify cross government insights on whistleblowing.19 The Cabinet Office told us it produces summary reports of the RAC departmental data and shares this with HR directors, nominated officers and policy leads.20 However, it could not tell us which departments are complying with best practice and it accepted that it can strengthen its data to get a better picture in this area.21
Government Response Summary
The Cabinet Office states that during the 2023-24 data collection exercise, it took robust action through regular engagement with practitioners to ensure data accuracy, further bolstered by clarifying departmental responses on behalf of agencies, and ran drop-in sessions and held assurance meetings with practitioners to support completion of annual data returns, clarify submission processes, and promote the importance of whistleblowing.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
1.6 During the 2023-24 data collection exercise, the Cabinet Office took robust action through regular engagement with practitioners to ensure the accuracy of the data submitted. This has been further bolstered by ensuring that it is clear when departments are responding on behalf of their agencies. And where they are not responding, being clear that they should be aware of their agencies' returns. 1.7 The Cabinet Office ran a series of drop-in sessions in June 2024, to support practitioners with the completion of annual data returns, to clarify the submission process and to ensure accurate and timely responses. 1.8 The Cabinet Office held departmental assurance meetings (spot checks) with practitioners throughout Summer 2024, to ensure the accuracy of the data submitted, share learning and promote the importance of whistleblowing across the Civil Service.