Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what protections are in place for whistle-blowers in local government.

Under the Employment Rights Act 1996, workers are entitled to protection from detriment or dismissal as a result of blowing the whistle, and a route of redress through the Employment Tribunals if these protections are infringed. This includes workers in local government.

To qualify for protection the worker usually has to have made the disclosure to their employer, legal adviser or a prescribed person. Disclosures relating to local authorities can be made to the external auditor of the relevant authority, the Comptroller and Auditor General (National Audit Office), or a Member of Parliament.

The Government has published guidance, including on who is protected by law, how to make a disclosure, and what protections are available to whistleblowers. The guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/whistleblowing