Public Administration Committee - Tenth Report
Leaks and Whistleblowing in Whitehall

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Here you can browse the report together with the Proceedings of the Committee. The published report was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 16 July 2009.

Contents

Terms of Reference

Summary

1 Introduction

Conduct of the Inquiry

Scope and Definitions

2 When can leaking be justified?

Effects of leaks from the Civil Service

Public Interest

The case for public interest leaking

The case against public interest leaking

Public Interest Disclosure Act

Public Interest Leaking - Conclusions

Freedom of Information

Political leaking and self-authorisation

3 How should leaks be investigated?

When is a leak criminal?

The Official Secrets Act

Misconduct in Public Office

How are leaks investigated?

Police Involvement

4 How can leaking be prevented?

Access to information

Whistleblowing

Whistleblowing procedures in Whitehall

Advice and procedures for potential whistleblowers

Civil Servants' attitudes towards whistleblowing

Awareness of the Civil Service Code and Civil Service Commissioners

Possible reforms

Non-civil servants

Departmental culture

5 Conclusion

Conclusions and recommendations

Formal Minutes

Witnesses

List of written evidence

List of Reports from the Committee during the current Parliament

Oral and Written Evidence
11 December 2008
22 January 2009
10 February 2009
5 March 2009
19 March 2009
2 April 2009
Written Evidence

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Prepared 10 August 2009