whistleblower policy and strategy

Authority	Cabinet Office
Date received	2021-05-14
Outcome	Information not held
Outcome date	2021-06-08
Case ID	1791509

Summary

The requester asked the Cabinet Office about the consideration of financial rewards and 'qui tam' legal proceedings to address whistleblowing policy weaknesses. The authority responded that it does not hold the requested information but noted a commitment to consult on a new statutory whistleblowing framework in 2021/22.

Key Facts

The Cabinet Office does not hold information regarding fixed scale rewards, percentage rewards, or 'qui tam' proceedings for whistleblowers.
At the February 2021 sitting of Tynwald, the Cabinet Office and Department for Enterprise committed to consulting on an all-encompassing statutory framework for whistleblowing.
Legal support for whistleblowers is likely to be considered as part of the 2021/22 consultation.
The Department for Enterprise was suggested as an alternative contact for further assistance.
The request was formally closed on 8 June 2021.

Data Disclosed

1791509
2021-05-14
2021-06-08
February 2021
2021/22
Article 6
686400
ded@gov.im

Original Request

To what extent has (a) fixed scale rewards (b) percentage whistleblower rewards and (c) encouragement of private sector "qui tam" common law legal proceedings on behalf of taxpayers with or without litigation funding been considered to address the weaknesses and repeated failures of the present whistleblowing policy and strategy and the lack of legal aid to a litigant in person as a breach of Article 6 of the United Nations Human Rights declaration?

Data Tables (2)

The		Cabinet			Office	doe	s not			hold		any	information				on		ed scale
percentage					whistleblower			reward				s and (		c)	encouragement				of private			sector			"qui		tam"
common				law	legal	proceedings					on	beha		lf of	taxpayers			with	or without				litigation			f	unding
to	a	ddress th			e alleged		weaknesse					s and		repeated			failures of		the	present				whistleblowing
policy			and st		rategy	and	the		l	ack o		f legal		aid	to	a l	itigant in		person		as	a	b	reach		of
Article			6	of t	he United		Nations				Human		R	igh	ts

However			e Cabinet				Office		advise	tha	t at	th	e		y 2021	sitting			of
the	Cabinet		Office			and	the	Department		for	Enterprise			(DfE)	committed			t	o consul
during		2021/	22	on		'an	all-encompassing			statutory			framewo		rk for	Whistleblowing				' and
lega	l s	uppor	t for		whistleblowers is				likely	to	be	considered a			s part	of	that		consultation.

Full Response Text

Government Office Douglas Isle of Man IM1 3PN Telephone: (+44) 01624 686244 Website: www.gov.im/co

Our ref: 1791509 8 June 2021

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 14 May 2021 and which states:

"To what extent has (a) fixed scale rewards (b) percentage whistleblower rewards and (c) encouragement of private sector "qui tam" common law legal proceedings on behalf of taxpayers with or without litigation funding been considered to address the weaknesses and repeated failures of the present whistleblowing policy and strategy and the lack of legal aid to a litigant in person as a breach of Article 6 of the United Nations Human Rights declaration?"

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Cabinet Office does not hold the information that you have requested. The Cabinet Office does not hold any information on (a) fixed scale rewards (b) percentage whistleblower rewards and (c) encouragement of private sector "qui tam" common law legal proceedings on behalf of taxpayers with or without litigation funding to address the alleged weaknesses and repeated failures of the present whistleblowing policy and strategy and the lack of legal aid to a litigant in person as a breach of Article 6 of the United Nations Human Rights declaration. However, the Cabinet Office can advise that at the February 2021 sitting of Tynwald, the Cabinet Office and the Department for Enterprise (DfE) committed to consult during 2021/22 on 'an all-encompassing statutory framework for Whistleblowing' and legal support for whistleblowers is likely to be considered as part of that consultation.

You may wish to contact the Department for Enterprise at ded@gov.im or Telephone: 686400 who may be able to help you.

Please quote the reference number 1791509 in any future communications.

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Yours sincerely