Government reviews whistleblowing laws

The UK Department for Business and Trade has published a press statement to announce an upcoming review of the current whistleblowing framework. The framework was originally established with the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 which sets out a regulatory framework in this context, including protective measures as regards the disclosure of information in connection with the „whistleblower“ or the protection from being dismissed upon disclosing any information.
In an accompanying Policy Paper, the Department outlines the key objective of the upcoming review which is to assess the framework’s current effectiveness to ensure that it is still fit for purpose and presents some key questions it will address during the review such as (as quoted)
– how has the whistleblowing framework facilitated disclosures?
– how has the whistleblowing framework protected workers?
– is whistleblowing information available and accessible for workers, employers, prescribed persons and others?
– what have been the wider benefits and impacts of the whistleblowing framework, on employers, prescribed persons and others?
– what does best practice look like in responding to disclosures?
The review is expected to be concluded by fall 2023.