Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how many non-disclosure agreements were agreed in government departments in each of the last five years.

Departments are responsible for the management of their staff, in accordance with the requirements of the Civil Service Management Code. As such, the requested information is held by individual departments.

The Cabinet Office publishes guidance on the use of confidentiality clauses in the Civil Service. This is publicly available here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/817156/Cabinet-Office-guidance-on-settlement-agreements-special-severance-payments-on-termination-of-employment-and-confidentiality-clauses.pdf.

It makes clear that such clauses should not be used to prevent staff from raising or discussing allegations of bullying, harassment or discrimination.