Whistleblowers in the Civil Service

Wera Hobhouse, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bath, asked the Government what steps it is taking to protect whistleblowers in the civil service. In response, Georgia Gould, the Parliamentary Secretary at the Cabinet Office, explained that the Cabinet Office provides a framework to support departments and employees, including guidance on how to raise concerns safely and practical support for whistleblowers. Gould also mentioned that the Cabinet Office is working to capture whistleblowers' experiences and find ways to improve the process. Additionally, she noted that the Government will be introducing a "duty of candour" bill to improve transparency and accountability. Hobhouse followed up, stating that good whistleblowing is beneficial for the government. She referenced a National Audit Office report that found 50% of civil servants feel it is not safe to challenge the way things are being done and that their concerns are not being listened to or they may face negative consequences for speaking out. Hobhouse asked the Government to establish a new office of whistleblowers to create new legal rights and promote greater public awareness of whistleblowers' rights. Gould acknowledged the importance of whistleblowing and stated that the Government is committed to supporting whistleblowers. She said the Government is looking into the statistics mentioned by Hobhouse and the underlying issues, as it is a high priority for the Government.