Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether any employees of his Department have been blocked from promotion on account of being red-flagged as a result of making a complaint about (a) bullying or (b) discrimination.

The Cabinet Office does not red-flag employees who raise complaints about a) bullying or b) discrimination.

The Cabinet Office complies with the Civil Service Recruitment Principles with recruitment being merit based on the basis of fair and open competition. A copy of the Civil Service Recruitment Principles can be found at https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/recruitment/recruitment-principles/.

Complaints relating to bullying or discrimination are treated as confidential in accordance with departmental policies; as such, the hiring manager would not be aware of candidates raising complaints.