Whistleblowing Framework

Baroness Williams of Trafford Excerpts

Tuesday 16th May 2023 Lords Chamber

[Lord Flight (Con)]

[Inaudible.]

[Baroness Williams of Trafford (Con)]

My Lords, my noble friend Lord Flight stood up to ask a question, but I do not think the Minister heard it.

[Lord Flight (Con)]

My Lords, which is the bigger issue, the underpayment of pensions or the overpayment of pensions?

[Baroness Williams of Trafford (Con)]

I think my noble friend may want to ask that on the pensions Question.

[Baroness Altmann (Con)]

I congratulate the Government on having a review of whistleblowing, which clearly is long overdue. I thank my noble friend for his letter and engagement with us on the whistleblowing issue in the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill, but does he consider that there is adequate protection in the current framework against career detriment and dismissal for whistleblowers? Does he not think that those who are working inside firms are best placed to blow the whistle and uncover crimes before any regulator tries to sweep up the mess afterwards? Therefore, looking at examples overseas, such as in America, that seem to work much better than here might be worth considering.