By David Williams
10 August 2009
Whitehall must do more to ensure civil servants are able to report ministerial wrong-doing, the public administration select committee has recommended.
In a report published today, the MPs called for better whistleblowing mechanisms.
The proposed measures include a new procedure to enable evidence that a minister had misled Parliament to be reported to Parliament following a complaint by a civil servant.
The report concludes that leak investigations are often ‘hamstrung’ by the fact that many leaks are politically motivated, and that less leaking would happen if civil servants had more accessible and legitimate ways of raising concerns.
Information leaks should only be a criminal matter where there is a breach of the Official Secrets Act, or evidence of corruption, such as money changing hands, the MPs said.
Committee chair Tony Wright said: ‘It is fundamental to good government that civil servants keep the confidences they are entrusted with.
‘However, there is a tension between this basic duty and the public’s legitimate interest in having access to information about how government works and ensuring government wrongdoing comes to light.
‘It is therefore essential that civil servants know what channels are available to them if they believe there is wrongdoing or information is being suppressed.
‘These channels must be timely, effective and, most importantly, not be seen as career-damaging.
‘A culture that encourages proper whistleblowing procedures is the best safeguard against leaking, and we believe the civil service has some way to go to achieve this,’ he added.
10 August 2009
Whitehall must do more to ensure civil servants are able to report ministerial wrong-doing, the public administration select committee has recommended.
In a report published today, the MPs called for better whistleblowing mechanisms.
The proposed measures include a new procedure to enable evidence that a minister had misled Parliament to be reported to Parliament following a complaint by a civil servant.
The report concludes that leak investigations are often ‘hamstrung’ by the fact that many leaks are politically motivated, and that less leaking would happen if civil servants had more accessible and legitimate ways of raising concerns.
Information leaks should only be a criminal matter where there is a breach of the Official Secrets Act, or evidence of corruption, such as money changing hands, the MPs said.
Committee chair Tony Wright said: ‘It is fundamental to good government that civil servants keep the confidences they are entrusted with.
‘However, there is a tension between this basic duty and the public’s legitimate interest in having access to information about how government works and ensuring government wrongdoing comes to light.
‘It is therefore essential that civil servants know what channels are available to them if they believe there is wrongdoing or information is being suppressed.
‘These channels must be timely, effective and, most importantly, not be seen as career-damaging.
‘A culture that encourages proper whistleblowing procedures is the best safeguard against leaking, and we believe the civil service has some way to go to achieve this,’ he added.
