Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she is taking steps to ensure that staff in her Department who are under investigation for alleged misconduct are not named before those allegations are proven.

Defra follows Civil Service HR’s wider model discipline policy and ensures the utmost care is taken to ensure the identity of those under investigation for misconduct is managed in the strictest confidence, prior to, during and after investigations. This includes applying GDPR regulations which are clear on who should be permitted access and strict confidentiality markings. All those involved in investigations and the handling of misconduct cases are aware of the sensitivity of the information they have access to and the importance of ensuring it remains in strictest confidence.

Defra’s disciplinary policy sits alongside a separate Whistleblowing/Raising a Concern Policy in line with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.