asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Department for Culture, Media and Sport has any arrangements to enable staff of that department to raise, in confidence, concerns about matters of financial reporting, disclosure of other information or value for money and; if so, whether they will give details of the arrangements.[HL7613]

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport has whistleblowing arrangements in place which are publicised on the intranet. These arrangements include two trained nominated officers, to enable staff to raise in confidence concerns about any matters which they believe they are being required to act in a way which conflicts with the Civil Service Code. These matters could include financial reporting or value for money.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Department for International Development has any arrangements to enable staff of that department to raise, in confidence, concerns about matters of financial reporting, disclosure of other information or value for money; and, if so, whether they will give details of the arrangements.[HL7655]

DfID's anti-fraud and corruption policy provides a framework for all staff to be able to report, in strictest confidence, allegations, suspicions or concerns about fraud and other financial misconduct against the department's funds. All allegations, suspicions or concerns are reported to the head of DfID's internal audit department or posted to a special email address: fraud@dfid.gov.uk. Timely reporting is a requirement; however, should an informant feel unable to use these internal mechanisms, there are other whistleblowing opportunities available, for example Public Concern at Work and the National Audit Office. DfID's anti-fraud and corruption policy is available to all staff by means of a leaflet entitled Fighting Fraud and Corruption, a copy of which I have placed in the Library, and detailed information on the department's intranet.

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether the Privy Council Office has any arrangements to enable staff of that department to raise, in confidence, concerns about matters of financial reporting, disclosure of other information or value for money; and, if so, whether they will give details of the arrangements.[HL7665]

The Privy Council office implemented a whistleblowing policy in February 2006. This supplemented existing guidance to staff on nominated officers within the department, to whom staff may turn if they have any concerns that they are being asked to act in a way which is inconsistent with the Civil Service Code. The policy also explains the protection afforded by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 to staff wishing to report their concerns.

The Privy Council Office also has a number of other policies to protect staff and to enable them to raise concerns about impropriety or irregularity, including policies on fraud, procurement, conduct and discipline, harassment, bullying and victimisation.