Investigation into whistleblowing in the civil service

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 10 Jan 2024 Closed: 28 May 2024 Parliament page
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 … Read more
6 Recommendations
18 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
1 Letter
1 Event
Activity timeline 5 events
11 Jul
2025
Report published
25 May
2024
Report published
29 Apr
2024
Correspondence
17 Apr
2024
Oral evidence
17 Apr
2024
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
17 Apr 2024
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Investigation into whistleblowing in the civil service
Esther Wallington · HM Revenue and Customs Fiona Ryland · Cabinet Office Helen Pickles · Department for Work and Pensions Matthew Davies · Cabinet Office
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Thirty-Sixth Report - Investigation into whistleblowing in the c… HC 457 25 May 2024 24 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
3 results
Clear
15 Conclusion Acknowledged
Thirty-Sixth Report - Investigatio…
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 … Read more
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
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21 Conclusion Acknowledged
Thirty-Sixth Report - Investigatio…
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 … Read more
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 for Business and Trade’s review, explore agency expectations, and explore a mentoring system for Nominated Officers.
HM Treasury
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23 Conclusion Acknowledged
Thirty-Sixth Report - Investigatio…
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 … Read more
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 for Business and Trade’s review, explore agency expectations, and explore a mentoring system for Nominated Officers.
HM Treasury
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Government Response AI assessment · 23 of 6 classified
Accepted 17
Accepted in Part 3
Acknowledged 3
Total 6 recs + 18 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
29 Apr 2024 Correspondence from Jim Harra, Chief Executive and First Permanent Secretary, HM Revenue & Customs, re Investigation into whistleblowing in the civil service, dated 24 April 2024
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