§ Mr. BakerTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (1) on how many occasions a civil servant who has reported alleged wrongdoing under the civil service code has reported the matter in writing to the Civil Service Commission; [11814]
(2) on how many occasions since the introduction of the civil service code a civil servant has reported alleged wrongdoing. [11813]
§ Dr. David ClarkWhere a civil servant believes that he or she is being required to act in a way which would be in breach of the Civil Service Code, he or she should report the matter internally in accordance with departmental procedures. If the civil servant involved believes that the response is not a reasonable one, he or she may report the matter in writing to the civil service commissioners.
Two appeals falling within the terms of the civil service code have been investigated by the civil service commissioners and upheld. Details are provided in the commissioners' annual report for 1996–97. A third approach is still the subject of internal departmental procedures. A fourth was resolved within the Department before it became clear whether it fell within the terms of the code.
433WInformation on the number of cases raised under the code, and settled internally within Departments without reference to the commissioners, is not held centrally.