Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what provisions are in place to protect whistleblowers in (a) Jobcentre Plus and (b) Work Programme providers.

(a) Whilst Jobcentres remain the branding of the Department's frontline face to face service, the executive agency status of Jobcentre Plus ended during 2011-12 as DWP integrated its frontline agencies into one operation. DWP has a Whistleblowing policy which covers all employees. This encourages employees to raise any concerns about wrongdoing. Where an employee raises a concern under this policy, the procedures ensure that they are provided with protection, help and support.

(b) Responsibility for the protection of whistleblowers in Work Programme providers rests with their employers. Employers are subject to the Public Interest Disclosure Act which protects whistleblowers from suffering any detriment as a result of raising a genuine concern.