🛡️ Office of the Whistleblower

Commons Chamber

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Gareth Snell introduced a Bill to establish an independent Office of the Whistleblower, aiming to protect those who expose wrongdoing and ensure their disclosures are effectively managed. He highlighted the personal risks whistleblowers face and praised their bravery, noting the current system’s focus on employment law fails to address broader social and reputational damage. The proposed office would streamline reporting, collate crucial data, and shift from reactive to proactive whistleblowing culture, potentially saving millions in redress costs. The Bill passed its first reading and is set for a second reading on April 25, 2025.

Summary

  • Purpose of the Bill: Gareth Snell proposed a Bill to establish an independent Office of the Whistleblower. The office would protect whistleblowers and manage whistleblowing cases by setting standards, monitoring, and enforcing them, as well as providing advice, directing investigations, and ensuring redress for any harm suffered by whistleblowers.

  • Acknowledgment of Whistleblowers: Snell thanked those brave enough to report wrongdoing and paid tribute to his predecessor, Jo Gideon, for her work on whistleblowing issues.

  • Government Efforts: Snell appreciated the Government’s steps to improve whistleblowing, including the duty of candour Bill and efforts to tackle sexual harassment via the Employment Rights Bill.

  • Current System’s Shortcomings: The existing whistleblowing framework focuses mainly on employment law, limiting protections and remedies to employment-related issues, ignoring broader social and reputational damage.

  • Proposed Changes: The Bill suggests creating an office that could level the playing field for whistleblowers against larger organizations. This office would streamline the process, as currently, disclosures can be made to 88 different regulatory bodies, which can lead to inefficiency.

  • Data Collection: A key feature of the proposed office is that it would collect data on whistleblowing disclosures to identify problematic sectors and prevent future issues, moving from a reactive to a proactive approach.

  • Cultural Shift: Snell emphasized the need to change the culture around whistleblowing to encourage and support those who speak out, deterring potential wrongdoers by showing that their actions will be challenged.

  • Next Steps: The Bill was read for the first time and is scheduled for its second reading on 25 April 2025.

Divisiveness

The session shows very little disagreement among the participants. Gareth Snell presents the motion to bring in a Bill for establishing an independent Office of the Whistleblower, and the transcript does not indicate any opposition or debate against the proposal. The motion is put to a vote and agreed upon without any dissenting voices recorded. This suggests a high level of consensus on the issue, warranting a rating of 1 for disagreement displayed in the session.