Thirty-Sixth Report - Investigation into whistleblowing in the civil service

Select Committee
Public Accounts Committee HC 457 25 May 2024
Report Status Government responded
Conclusions & Recommendations 24 items (6 recs)
Source View on Parliament website
Government Response (AI assessment · 24 of 24 classified)
Accepted 18
Accepted in Part 3
Acknowledged 3
Government response
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Thirty-sixth report from Session 2023-24 · published 11 Jul 2025
Read the government response ↗ Response on the tracker
Clear

Recommendations & Conclusions

3 results
15 Conclusion Acknowledged
Mixed leadership role-modelling hinders supportive culture for raising concerns across civil service
Conclusion
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 Summary
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
Cabinet Office shares whistleblowing good practice through annual conferences and online community hubs.
Conclusion
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 Summary
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
Departments inconsistently apply whistleblowing guidance to their associated arm’s-length bodies.
Conclusion
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 Summary
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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