Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how ethical concerns raised by civil servants are escalated (1) within departments, and (2) to the Cabinet Office; and what factors determine when the Propriety and Ethics Team or the Cabinet Secretary are involved.

Concerns regarding the Civil Service, Ministerial or Special Adviser Codes should be escalated via line management chains, and to the Permanent Secretary’s (or Head of Department’s) office where necessary. Concerns can then be escalated to the Cabinet Office where the Department considers it necessary.

As set out in the Civil Service Code, concerns in relation to that Code can also be raised with the relevant department's nominated officers who have been appointed to advise staff on the code.