Asked by: Lord Bishop of St Albans (Bishops - Bishops)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many cases of whistleblowing occurred in NHS hospitals in (1) 2019, (2) 2020, (3) 2021, and (4) 2022.
Answered by Lord Markham - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The information requested is not collected or held centrally.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether she is taking steps to ensure that staff in her Department who are under investigation for alleged misconduct are not named before those allegations are proven.
Answered by Mark Spencer - Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
Defra follows Civil Service HR’s wider model discipline policy and ensures the utmost care is taken to ensure the identity of those under investigation for misconduct is managed in the strictest confidence, prior to, during and after investigations. This includes applying GDPR regulations which are clear on who should be permitted access and strict confidentiality markings. All those involved in investigations and the handling of misconduct cases are aware of the sensitivity of the information they have access to and the importance of ensuring it remains in strictest confidence.
Defra’s disciplinary policy sits alongside a separate Whistleblowing/Raising a Concern Policy in line with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether she is taking steps to ensure that staff in her Department who are under investigation for alleged misconduct are not named before those allegations are proven.
Answered by George Freeman
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology has clear policies in place aligned with Civil Service HR’s wider model discipline policy, stipulating that all cases of misconduct should be dealt with confidentially, and everyone involved in the discipline process is expected to maintain confidentiality. Any breaches of confidentiality may be treated as misconduct.
This does not prevent someone from raising a matter under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA) where they have a relevant concern and sits alongside a separate Whistleblowing and Raising a Concern Policy in line with PIDA.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he is taking steps to ensure that staff in his Department who are under investigation for alleged misconduct are not named before those allegations are proven.
Answered by Jesse Norman
The Department for Transport has a comprehensive Discipline Policy & Procedure published on the departmental intranet so it can formally manage any reports of alleged misconduct. This follows the Civil Service HR’s wider model discipline policy and includes clear instructions on appropriate disclosure, and the importance of confidentiality, during the course of an investigation and after the matter has been concluded. Confidentiality applies to all parties involved in the process, and it is considered a disciplinary offence to breach confidentiality requirements. This sits alongside a separate Whistleblowing/Raising a Concern Policy in line with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether he is taking steps to ensure that staff in his Department who are under investigation for alleged misconduct are not named before those allegations are proven.
Answered by Jeremy Quin
The Department's policies follow the Civil Service HR's wider model discipline policy.
This sits alongside a separate Whistleblowing/Raising a Concern Policy in line with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether she is taking steps to ensure that staff in her Department who are under investigation for alleged misconduct are not named before those allegations are proven.
Answered by Nick Gibb
The Department's policies follow the Civil Service Human Resources' wider model discipline policy. This makes clear that disciplinary matters are strictly confidential. This sits alongside a separate Whistleblowing/Raising a Concern Policy in line with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she is taking steps to ensure that staff in her Department who are under investigation for alleged misconduct are not named before those allegations are proven.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
Departmental policies follow the Civil Service HR’s wider model discipline policy. This states that ‘everyone involved in the disciplinary process is expected to maintain confidentiality at all times – including once the process has been concluded’. Not following Departmental policy can lead to disciplinary action.
In some instances, other individuals, such as essential operational teams (Security and HR) or witnesses involved in the investigation process may need to be made aware of the name of staff who are under investigation.
This sits alongside a separate Whistleblowing/Raising a Concern Policy in line with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Northern Ireland Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, whether he is taking steps to ensure that staff in his Department who are under investigation for alleged misconduct are not named before those allegations are proven.
Answered by Steve Baker - Minister of State (Northern Ireland Office)
The Northern Ireland Office follows the MoJ policies which adhere to the Civil Service HR's wider model discipline policy.
The policy and guidance makes it clear that investigations into alleged misconduct are strictly confidential.
This sits alongside a separate Northern Ireland Office Whistleblowing / Raising a Concern Policy in line with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he is taking steps to ensure that staff in his Department who are under investigation for alleged misconduct are not named before those allegations are proven.
Answered by Will Quince
The Department's policies follow Civil Service HR's wider model discipline policy. This makes clear that all disciplinary matters are strictly confidential, with all parties pertaining to an investigation process required to always maintain confidentiality, including once the process has concluded.
This sits alongside a separate 'raising a concern' policy, which is sometimes referred to as whistleblowing, in line with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.
Asked by: Julian Knight (Independent - Solihull)
Question to the Ministry of Defence:
To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, whether he is taking steps to ensure that staff in his Department who are under investigation for alleged misconduct are not named before those allegations are proven.
Answered by Andrew Murrison - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Defence)
The Ministry of Defence's (MOD) policies for MOD Civil Servants follow the Civil Service's wider discipline policy. This makes clear that disciplinary matters are strictly confidential. This also sits alongside a separate Whistleblowing/Raising a Concern policy, in line with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.