To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what monitoring her Department carries out of the implementation and practice of whistleblowing policies by local authorities; and if she will make a statement. (247816)

The Department does not monitor councils’ policies on whistle blowing, which are matters for individual councils.

However, on 24 December 2008, we concluded a consultation on introducing a model code of conduct for local authority employees which included a proposed provision that where an employee becomes aware of activities that the employee considers to be illegal, improper or unethical, the employee should report the matter in accordance with the employees rights under the Public Disclosure Act 1998.

We are now considering the responses we have received to the consultation.