9 December 2008: Immediate
PASC LAUNCHES INQUIRY INTO LEAKS AND WHISTLEBLOWING IN WHITEHALL
EVIDENCE FROM WITH CABINET SECRETARY GUS O’DONNELL WILL OFFER FIRST OPPORTUNITY TO CONSIDER ISSUES FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE
The Public Administration Select Committee (PASC) has today agreed to open an inquiry into leaks and whistleblowing in Whitehall. While current interest has been sparked by recent events, the inquiry aims to cover the broader issues arising, rather than focussing on a single specific incident.
The Committee is already scheduled to take evidence from Sir Gus O’Donnell, the Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Home Civil Service. While the session will cover the work of the Cabinet Office and civil service issues more widely, there are also highly likely to be questions on how Sir Gus, the Cabinet Office and Government more widely deal with leaks.
The evidence session will be held on
Thursday 11 December at
10.00am in the
Thatcher Room,
Portcullis House.
The Committee’s Chairman, Tony Wright MP, said:
“As I said earlier this week, PASC is well-placed to give detailed consideration to the whole issue of how Whitehall deals with leaks and other unauthorised releases of information, and how a balance can be struck with public interest considerations in relation to leaks and whistleblowing. We shall want to raise the matter with Sir Gus O’Donnell, as head of the civil service, when he appears before us on Thursday.”
Full terms of reference for the inquiry, which will continue with oral evidence in the New Year, will be announced in due course.
For more information about the work of the Committee, visit our website at:
www.parliament.uk/pasc
FURTHER INFORMATION:
Committee Membership: Tony Wright (Chairman) (Lab) (Cannock Chase), Mr David Burrowes (Con) (Enfield, Southgate), Paul Flynn (Lab) (Newport West), David Heyes (Lab) (Ashton under Lyne), Kelvin Hopkins (Lab) (Luton North), Mr Ian Liddell-Grainger (Con) (Bridgewater), Julie Morgan (Lab) (Cardiff North), Mr Gordon Prentice (Lab) (Pendle), Paul Rowen (Lib Dem) (Rochdale), Charles Walker (Con) (Broxbourne), Jenny Willott (Lib Dem) (Cardiff Central)
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bridgespalmerj@parliament.uk
Specific Committee Information: Email:
pasc@parliament.uk Tel: 020 7219 3284
Committee Website:
www.parliament.uk/pasc
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