Overview

This bill establishes an Office of the Whistleblower in the UK to support individuals who report wrongdoing within their organizations. The Office will provide advice, support, and potentially financial redress to whistleblowers, aiming to strengthen protections and encourage reporting of illegal or unethical activities.

Description

The bill creates a new Office of the Whistleblower, overseen by the Secretary of State. Key functions include:

• Administration of whistleblowing arrangements: Overseeing systems to facilitate protected disclosures.
• Guidance and Support: Acting as a point of contact for whistleblowers and providing advice and support, including access to a panel of legal experts.
• Financial Assistance: Maintaining a fund to support whistleblowers and provide financial redress for those harmed by their disclosures.
• Review and Reform: Consulting on and reporting on potential amendments to existing whistleblower protection legislation (Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 and its Northern Ireland equivalent).
• Annual Reporting: Publishing an annual report to Parliament on its activities.

The bill defines "whistleblower" as someone making a protected disclosure under existing legislation. The Office will have powers to direct and monitor relevant bodies regarding confidentiality and information handling.

Government Spending

The bill does not specify the exact amount of government spending required to establish and operate the Office. Costs will include staffing, administrative expenses, the fund for supporting whistleblowers, and potential financial redress payments. The exact financial implications will be determined by regulations set after the bill's passage.

Groups Affected

• Whistleblowers: Will potentially benefit from increased support, advice, and potentially financial compensation.
• Employers: May face greater scrutiny regarding their handling of whistleblowing disclosures.
• Government Departments: Will be responsible for establishing and funding the Office.
• Legal Professionals: May be included in the panel of accredited advisors, benefiting from increased work.

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