§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what procedures exist in his Department for a civil servant to report actions which(a) are illegal, improper, or unethical, (b) are in breach of constitutional convention or a professional code, (c) may involve possible maladministration and (d) are otherwise inconsistent with the Civil Service Code. [135454]
§ Mr. MandelsonThe Civil Service Code is set out in full in the Northern Ireland Office Home Civil Service Staff Handbook. The procedures which staff should follow when they wish to report matters in the categories listed are also set out in the Staff Handbook in the section on Complaints about Personal Matters. This section includes details about the Independent Departmental Adviser with whom staff may discuss their concerns, and the circumstances in which they may write direct to the Civil Service Commissioners.