Prison Service: Disclosure of Information

Ministry of Justice written question – answered at on 28 October 2020.

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Photo of Lyn Brown Lyn Brown Shadow Minister (Justice)

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2020 to Question 76676 on Prisons: Disclosure of Information, how many cases are being managed within the existing whistleblowing process.

Photo of Lyn Brown Lyn Brown Shadow Minister (Justice)

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, further to the Answer of 1 September 2020 to Question 76676, what the average time was for a whistleblowing case under management within the existing whistleblowing process, for cases beginning in (a) 2015, (b) 2016, (c) 2017, (d) 2018, (e) 2019 and (f) 2020 to date.

Photo of Lyn Brown Lyn Brown Shadow Minister (Justice)

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2020 to Question 76676, at what points during the existing whistleblowing process are (a) senior HMPPS officials, (b) senior Departmental officials, and (c) Ministers involved.

Photo of Lyn Brown Lyn Brown Shadow Minister (Justice)

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2020 to Question 76676, whether standards or targets have been set for the conclusion of whistleblowing cases within the existing whistleblowing process.

Photo of Lucy Frazer Lucy Frazer The Minister of State, Ministry of Justice

There are currently no whistleblowing cases from prisons being managed through the existing whistleblowing process.

The information requested on average times for whistleblowing cases is not currently held by the Ministry of Justice. The existing Ministry of Justice whistleblowing policy is currently being reviewed and updated and as part of this process the Ministry of Justice are looking at improving the data recorded on whistleblowing cases.

Staff should, in most instances, raise their concern with their line manager, however, if this is not appropriate or the concern is a serious matter that needs to be dealt with as a matter of urgency, they can raise their concern with a more senior manager or with a Nominated Officer. If the employee believes the concern is extremely serious then they can raise their concern with the Permanent Secretary.

The current MoJ Whistleblowing policy states that concerns raised with be dealt with as sensitively and as quickly as possible. The department will aim to update the employee on the progress of the concern within 28 days where possible. However, in the event of a formal investigation or the involvement of police/security, it may not be possible or appropriate to provide full details. The department will confirm when the matter is concluded and, if appropriate, the outcome of the investigation, maintaining security and confidentiality for all parties as far as possible.

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