Gordon Henderson Portrait

Gordon Henderson

Conservative - Sittingbourne and Sheppey

First elected: 6th May 2010


Select Committees
Panel of Chairs (since November 2023)
Gordon Henderson is not a member of any APPGs
2 Former APPG memberships
Fair Fuel for UK Motorists and UK Hauliers, Fruit and Vegetable Farmers
Regulatory Reform
26th Jul 2010 - 30th Mar 2015


Division Voting information

During the current Parliament, Gordon Henderson has voted in 816 divisions, and 7 times against the majority of their Party.

4 Nov 2020 - Public Health - View Vote Context
Gordon Henderson voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 33 Conservative No votes vs 308 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 516 Noes - 38
24 Jun 2020 - Demonstrations (Abortion Clinics) - View Vote Context
Gordon Henderson voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 43 Conservative No votes vs 56 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 213 Noes - 47
13 May 2020 - Remote Division result: New Clause 2 - View Vote Context
Gordon Henderson voted Aye - against a party majority and against the House
One of 22 Conservative Aye votes vs 326 Conservative No votes
Tally: Ayes - 277 Noes - 328
20 Oct 2021 - Environment Bill - View Vote Context
Gordon Henderson voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 22 Conservative No votes vs 265 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 268 Noes - 204
18 Oct 2022 - Public Order Bill - View Vote Context
Gordon Henderson voted No - against a party majority and against the House
One of 103 Conservative No votes vs 113 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 297 Noes - 110
30 Nov 2022 - Finance Bill - View Vote Context
Gordon Henderson voted No - against a party majority - in line with the party majority and against the House
One of 4 Conservative No votes vs 282 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 285 Noes - 210
16 Jan 2023 - Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill - View Vote Context
Gordon Henderson voted No - against a party majority - in line with the party majority and in line with the House
One of 299 Conservative No votes vs 18 Conservative Aye votes
Tally: Ayes - 49 Noes - 482
View All Gordon Henderson Division Votes

Debates during the 2019 Parliament

Speeches made during Parliamentary debates are recorded in Hansard. For ease of browsing we have grouped debates into individual, departmental and legislative categories.

Sparring Partners
Nick Gibb (Conservative)
(9 debate interactions)
Christopher Pincher (Independent)
(7 debate interactions)
Chris Philp (Conservative)
Minister of State (Home Office)
(5 debate interactions)
View All Sparring Partners
Department Debates
Ministry of Justice
(16 debate contributions)
Department for Education
(12 debate contributions)
View All Department Debates
Legislation Debates
Gordon Henderson has not made any spoken contributions to legislative debate
View all Gordon Henderson's debates

Sittingbourne and Sheppey Petitions

e-Petitions are administered by Parliament and allow members of the public to express support for a particular issue.

If an e-petition reaches 10,000 signatures the Government will issue a written response.

If an e-petition reaches 100,000 signatures the petition becomes eligible for a Parliamentary debate (usually Monday 4.30pm in Westminster Hall).

Gordon Henderson has not participated in any petition debates

Latest EDMs signed by Gordon Henderson

6th March 2024
Gordon Henderson signed this EDM as a sponsor on Wednesday 6th March 2024

Razor attacks in prisons

Tabled by: Grahame Morris (Labour - Easington)
That this House condemns the horrific and cowardly unprovoked razor attack on a prison officer at HMP Humber on 9 February 2024, which resulted in 53 stitches for a facial wound; notes with alarm the rising tide of prison violence since the end of pandemic lockdowns, with assaults against staff …
32 signatures
(Most recent: 26 Mar 2024)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 19
Plaid Cymru: 3
Independent: 3
Scottish National Party: 2
Conservative: 1
Democratic Unionist Party: 1
Alba Party: 1
Liberal Democrat: 1
Green Party: 1
6th March 2023
Gordon Henderson signed this EDM on Monday 13th March 2023

The Loan Charge

Tabled by: Karl Turner (Labour - Kingston upon Hull East)
That this House is concerned that suicides have been linked to the Loan Charge and that despite the Morse Review, thousands face unaffordable demands, with the risk of further suicides; notes that most people facing action were mis-sold schemes and that HMRC are demanding scheme users repay disputed tax; further …
118 signatures
(Most recent: 11 Jul 2023)
Signatures by party:
Labour: 36
Scottish National Party: 33
Conservative: 17
Liberal Democrat: 14
Democratic Unionist Party: 7
Independent: 5
Plaid Cymru: 3
Alba Party: 2
Green Party: 1
Social Democratic & Labour Party: 1
View All Gordon Henderson's signed Early Day Motions

Commons initiatives

These initiatives were driven by Gordon Henderson, and are more likely to reflect personal policy preferences.

MPs who are act as Ministers or Shadow Ministers are generally restricted from performing Commons initiatives other than Urgent Questions.


Gordon Henderson has not been granted any Urgent Questions

Gordon Henderson has not been granted any Adjournment Debates

Gordon Henderson has not introduced any legislation before Parliament


Latest 33 Written Questions

(View all written questions)
Written Questions can be tabled by MPs and Lords to request specific information information on the work, policy and activities of a Government Department
14th Jul 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, whether he has plans to a new Fuel Poverty Strategy for England.

Following consultation, the Government is currently updating its Fuel Poverty Strategy for England and is considering the appropriate mix of subsidy, incentives and regulation required to meet the statutory Fuel Poverty Target to improve homes to an energy efficiency rating of Band C by 2030. We plan to publish an updated fuel poverty strategy later this year.

24th Jun 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps he is taking to ensure the Warm Home Discount is maintained after the end of March 2021.

We will consult on a one-year extension of the current Warm Home Discount scheme later this year. We will also consider reform to improve the fuel poverty targeting of the scheme beyond 2022, and will consult on this in due course.

13th Oct 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what plans he has to provide support to seaside and high street arcades during the covid-19 outbreak.

Like other businesses, seaside and high street arcades have been able to access the Government’s £300 billion package of support measures, which has included a business rates holiday, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme. In addition, a new Job Support Scheme (JSS) will be introduced from 1 November to protect viable jobs in businesses which are facing lower demand over the winter months due to coronavirus. On 9 October, the Chancellor announced that JSS will be expanded to protect jobs and support businesses required to close their doors as a result of coronavirus restrictions.

The department has also worked closely with industry representatives on developing guidance to ensure that the sector could reopen in a Covid secure way. We will continue to keep this guidance under review with the industry.

Nigel Huddleston
Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
10th Feb 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of discontinuing the use of U1 waste exemptions.

In 2018, Defra and the Welsh Government consulted on reforming the waste exemptions element in the environmental permitting regime to prevent the use of exemptions to cover illegal activity.

The consultation specifically asked whether the Government should keep the U1 exemption with no changes to its conditions, change the exemption (amend its conditions) or remove the exemption and require activities it covers to be carried out under an environmental permit.

A Government response to the consultation was published on 26 November 2018. However, because of the breadth of impacts that will result from changing these exemptions, and the implications for different business practices that can emerge from relatively minor technical changes, Defra and the Welsh Government have been further considering the impacts of the proposed changes. A supplementary Government response will be published in the spring.

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
10th Feb 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that U1 waste exemptions are not being used to dispose of waste illegally.

The Environment Agency undertakes a risk-based approach and may inspect U1 sites if it receives intelligence or complaints suggesting illegal activity.

The Government is currently reviewing the waste exemptions element within the environmental permitting regime to prevent the use of exemptions, including the U1 exemption, to cover illegal activity. A Government response will be published in the spring. The Environment Agency is also developing a charges scheme for 2024, which will help fund proactive compliance assessment at exempt sites.

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
18th Aug 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to publish a response to the proposal by the National Farmers Union for a sustainable food and farming scheme.

We met the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) to discuss their proposals at Ministerial and official level and the Secretary of State wrote to the NFU to thank them for their considered input into the development of our new policies. The Agricultural Transition Plan published in November sets out our plans for agricultural policies, including for the Sustainable Farming Incentive which we are currently piloting.

We have ongoing engagement with the NFU and meet regularly.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
18th Aug 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether he plans to take steps to encourage the expansion of abattoirs in Kent.

Defra recognises the role small abattoirs play in supporting the rural economy.

Defra is working with industry to find innovative solutions to support abattoirs. The Rural Development Programme for England Growth Programme, which is delivered by the Rural Payments Agency, is currently supporting a farmer-led mobile abattoir project which is trialling the use of a compact system for the on-farm slaughter of livestock. The project is due to be operational in autumn 2021 and, if successful, could be replicated elsewhere.

However, any decision to establish a new abattoir would be a commercial decision for the abattoir themselves.

Victoria Prentis
Attorney General
17th Jun 2021
What steps he is taking to help protect farmers from fly-tipping.

We are preparing new legislation to tackle waste crime, such as fly-tipping. This includes reforming how those transporting waste are regulated and introducing mandatory electronic tracking of waste, subject to consultation. The Environment Bill will also ensure authorities have better access to evidence and improved powers of entry. The Defra-chaired National Fly-Tipping Prevention Group works with the National Farmers Union and others to share advice on how to prevent fly-tipping on private land.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
18th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps he is taking to protect from cliff erosion homeowners living on the north coast of the Isle of Sheppey.

Under the Coast Protection Act 1949, Swale Borough Council is the maritime authority for the Isle of Sheppey coastline and takes the lead for coastal erosion. The Shoreline Management Plan, led and owned by the South East Coastal Group, was agreed by all local partners and signed off by Defra in 2010. The long term plan has identified that it is not viable to invest in sustaining defences on the coastline from Minster Slopes to Warden Bay. This is because a large coastal defence and surface water management scheme to reduce the rate of erosion in this location would not be economically justifiable due to the small number of properties that would be beneficiaries. In addition, the eroding cliffs are of national conservation, geological and landscape importance and are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

To help manage the impact on those directly affected by coastal erosion, the Environment Agency’s Medway Estuary and Swale Flood and Erosion Risk Strategy has developed adaptation options to relocate or compensate affected properties. This strategy has been supported by key local partners including Swale Borough Council, Natural England and Defra. The Environment Agency will continue to work closely with Swale Borough Council and the South East Coastal Group to support this approach and work with the local residents. The EA will also help explore funding opportunities for any property adaptation proposals which Swale Borough Council may bring forward.

Rebecca Pow
Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
8th Sep 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps he has taken to ensure additional support for the coach industry during the covid-19 outbreak.

On 8 August, the Government announced a funding package of over £40 million for Local Transport Authorities to procure additional, dedicated home to education transport services, including the provision of additional coach services.

This funding will help children and young people get to school and college, whilst social distancing reduces the capacity of existing public transport.

Coach operators could contact local authorities to discuss their home to school transportation plans.

The Government has also announced several measures available to UK businesses, including the coach sector, to support them through this time, including: a further exemption to the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations until July 2021; Government recognition of refund credits under the Bonded Coach Holiday Scheme to allow customers to book a future holiday or request a refund when trading resumes; and access to the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, Coronavirus Large Business Interruption Loan Scheme, Coronavirus Bounce Back Loan Scheme, and Time to Pay.

17th May 2021
What steps she is taking to ensure that assessments for health and disability benefits are conducted safely during the covid-19 outbreak.

In March 2020, to ensure safety, we paused face-to-face assessments and assessed through paper-based review, telephone and video assessments. Working with providers and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer, we developed guidance to ensure the re-opening of assessment centres and resumption of face-to-face assessments can be conducted safely. Face-to-face will initially be for claimants unable to be assessed through other means.

22nd Jan 2020
What steps she is taking with the Secretary of State for Justice to reduce the waiting time for welfare benefit tribunal appeals.

DWP is working with the Ministry of Justice to develop a new digital system with a view to enabling swifter processing of appeals and a better service for all parties to the proceedings. Personal Independence Payment, Employment and Support Allowance and Universal Credit claimants can now submit their appeal online.

1st Nov 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve access to and availability of GP (a) services and (b) appointments.

We expect the measures in 'Our Plan for Patients' to make over a million more appointments available this winter.

We have provided 31,000 additional phone lines to practices, freed up funding rules to bolster general practice teams with other professionals, and accelerated support for practices to secure high-quality cloud-based telephony systems.

From November 2022, we will publish practice-level data for the first time, giving patients information on appointments at every GP practice in England.

Steve Barclay
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
5th Jul 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to review the adequacy and practicality of (a) the condition requiring applicants to apply for an exemption 14 days before their visit and (b) other conditions attached to the exemptions granted to people travelling from red list countries to the UK to visit dying relatives during the period of covid-19 travel restrictions.

The condition for individuals to apply at least 14 days in advance of their arrival is required due to the volume of exemption applications we are currently receiving and is necessary to ensure that all exemption requests, including the most complex cases, are treated with the appropriate care and attention. In complex cases, the process may involve requests for additional information, for which applicants need sufficient time to respond.

Jo Churchill
Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)
8th Jan 2021
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps he is taking to ensure that (a) Iraq and (b) other countries allow UK contract workers who test negative for covid-19 to return to those countries.

The pandemic has led to unprecedented international border closures and other restrictions and all countries may impose travel restrictions without notice. The UK Government is in close contact with international partners, including the Government of Iraq, on the rules for UK contract workers. All FCDO travel advice pages remain under constant review to ensure they reflect the latest threat assessment to British nationals and include up-to-date information and advice.

Carriers may deny boarding if passengers are not in receipt of a qualifying negative test. The Government recognises the continued challenges that the pandemic poses, both for individuals and for businesses. If British Nationals test positive for COVID-19 they should not travel and should follow the local relevant guidance on self-isolation.

James Cleverly
Home Secretary
13th Oct 2020
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans he has to provide support to (a) seaside and (b) high street arcades; and if he will extend the reduction in the rate of VAT to 5 per cent to include that sector.

The Government initially cut the rate of VAT applied to hospitality, accommodation and attractions, from 20 per cent to 5 per cent, for a period of six months to 12 January 2021. The Government has extended this relief, and it will now end on 31 March 2021. The reduced rate aims to support the cash flow and viability of over 150,000 businesses in the affected sectors and will help protect 2.4 million jobs.

Any business providing relevant hospitality, accommodation or attractions is able to benefit from the relief, wherever the business is located in the UK. Further information on this is available on GOV.UK. This policy will cost over £3 billion, and while some businesses in some sectors are disappointed, a boundary for eligibility had to be drawn.

19th Dec 2019
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to (a) review the proposed changes to IR35 and (b) support people who are self-employed.

The Chancellor has commissioned a review of the off-payroll working rules reform (IR35). As set out at Budget 2018, the reform is due to be extended to all sectors from April 2020. The review will focus on the implementation of the reform, and consider whether there are any further steps the Government can take to ensure the smooth and successful implementation of the upcoming reforms. The off-payroll working rules do not affect the self-employed; part of the review will consider whether this is clearly understood by businesses in their implementation of the reforms. In parallel to the review, HMRC will be stepping up their efforts to support individuals and businesses in preparing for these changes and raising awareness of the reform.

The Government is committed to supporting self-employed professionals and consultants. From April 2019, the UK will have increased its Personal Allowance by over 90% in less than a decade. The self-employed have also been given access to the full rate of the new State Pension, worth over £2,000 a year more to a self-employed individual than under the previous system.

Budget 2018 announced that the Government is extending the New Enterprise Allowance, to help people start a business; introducing a £10m pilot to support self-employed training; and equalising the treatment of all self-employed people with respect to the Universal Credit Minimum Income Floor.

12th Sep 2023
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent discussions she has had with Cabinet colleagues on resourcing Kent County Council to look after unaccompanied asylum seeking children.

The Home Office and the Department for Education are working closely with HMT to resolve funding arrangements as soon as possible. This is subject to litigation so I am afraid I cannot say much more at this stage.

19th May 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many Syrian refugees who claimed asylum in the UK since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011 have returned to that country.

The Home Office does not hold data on the location of refugees after they are granted asylum. We cannot therefore comment on the total number of Syrian asylum seekers who have since left the UK.

14th Apr 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many migrants were housed in hotels in the latest period for which figures are available.

The Home Office accommodates some supported asylum seekers and resettled Afghans temporarily in hotels. The number of asylum seekers accommodated in each local authority, although not broken down into hotels or other accommodation can be found at Asylum and resettlement datasets - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). Data is published on a quarterly basis, with the latest information published 24 February 2022. The next quarterly figures are due to be released in May 2022. There are currently over 12,000 resettled Afghans in bridging accommodation. This cohort includes Afghan nationals who may be eligible for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (ARAP), the Afghan Citizen Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) and British nationals.

14th Apr 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many migrants who came to the UK by crossing the Channel in 2021 have been removed from the UK.

The Home Office routinely publishes data on Irregular Migration to the UK and can be found at: Irregular migration to the UK, year ending December 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and also routinely publish data on the number of outcomes of asylum applications at initial decision, broken down by nationality, age, sex and applicant type and can be found at Asy_D02 of the published immigration statistics: Asylum and resettlement datasets - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

14th Apr 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many migrants who came to the UK by crossing the Channel in 2021 have had their asylum cases processed.

The Home Office routinely publishes data on Irregular Migration to the UK and can be found at: Irregular migration to the UK, year ending December 2021 - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and also routinely publish data on the number of outcomes of asylum applications at initial decision, broken down by nationality, age, sex and applicant type and can be found at Asy_D02 of the published immigration statistics: Asylum and resettlement datasets - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

3rd Mar 2022
To ask the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, what steps he is taking to help prevent the practice of people avoiding enforcement action by submitting repeated retrospective planning applications for the same development in the event that previous retrospective applications for that development have been refused.

A person who has undertaken unauthorised development has only one opportunity to obtain planning permission after the event. This can either be by means of a retrospective planning application or by means of an appeal against an enforcement notice.

The local planning authority can decline to determine a retrospective planning application if an enforcement notice has previously been issued.

Stuart Andrew
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Culture, Media and Sport)
14th Dec 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2020 to Question 99603 on Prisons: Disclosure of Information, when he expects to launch the new whistleblowing policy; and whether he plans to include in that policy provisions for prison staff to have access to a single whistleblowing telephone hotline through which to raise health and safety concerns.

Consultation has taken place with the following trade unions: Prison Officers’ Association, Prison Governors’ Association, PCS, Prospect, GMB, FDA, Napo and Unison and the response was largely positive with trade unions supportive of the new policy and supporting guidance documents.

The new Raising a Concern policy and supporting guidance documents include provision for staff in prisons to access the Integrity Hotline which allows staff to raise any concerns they may have about the workplace or their own wellbeing. HMPPS has effective and reliable systems for reporting and recording adverse security, and health and safety incidents. This allows staff to voice any concerns, and for health and safety teams to monitor and act where necessary.

Trade union consultation has now been completed and the new policy is now going through the separate Ministry of Justice and HM Prison & Probation Service policy governance processes. Once these processes are complete the policy will be published, which is expected to be in January 2021.

Lucy Frazer
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
14th Dec 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2020 to Question 106980 on Prisons: Disclosure of Information, whether the drafts of the updated policy and supporting guidance documents include provisions for prison staff to have access to a single whistleblowing telephone hotline through which to raise health and safety concerns.

Consultation has taken place with the following trade unions: Prison Officers’ Association, Prison Governors’ Association, PCS, Prospect, GMB, FDA, Napo and Unison and the response was largely positive with trade unions supportive of the new policy and supporting guidance documents.

The new Raising a Concern policy and supporting guidance documents include provision for staff in prisons to access the Integrity Hotline which allows staff to raise any concerns they may have about the workplace or their own wellbeing. HMPPS has effective and reliable systems for reporting and recording adverse security, and health and safety incidents. This allows staff to voice any concerns, and for health and safety teams to monitor and act where necessary.

Trade union consultation has now been completed and the new policy is now going through the separate Ministry of Justice and HM Prison & Probation Service policy governance processes. Once these processes are complete the policy will be published, which is expected to be in January 2021.

Lucy Frazer
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
14th Dec 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 29 October 2020 to Question 106980 on Prisons: Disclosure of Information, what response his Department has received from HMPPS trade unions to the drafts of the updated policy and supporting guidance documents.

Consultation has taken place with the following trade unions: Prison Officers’ Association, Prison Governors’ Association, PCS, Prospect, GMB, FDA, Napo and Unison and the response was largely positive with trade unions supportive of the new policy and supporting guidance documents.

The new Raising a Concern policy and supporting guidance documents include provision for staff in prisons to access the Integrity Hotline which allows staff to raise any concerns they may have about the workplace or their own wellbeing. HMPPS has effective and reliable systems for reporting and recording adverse security, and health and safety incidents. This allows staff to voice any concerns, and for health and safety teams to monitor and act where necessary.

Trade union consultation has now been completed and the new policy is now going through the separate Ministry of Justice and HM Prison & Probation Service policy governance processes. Once these processes are complete the policy will be published, which is expected to be in January 2021.

Lucy Frazer
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
21st Oct 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 14 October 2020 to Question 99603, Prisons: Disclosure of Information; which trade unions have received drafts of the updated policy and supporting guidance documents; and on what date did they receive that information.

Consultation has taken place with the following trade unions: Prison Officers’ Association, Prison Governors’ Association, PCS, Prospect, GMB, FDA, Napo and Unison. Consultation with HMPPS trade unions re-started, following a break due to the current pandemic, on 21st October 2020.

Lucy Frazer
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
6th Oct 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 1 September 2020 to Question 76674, Prisons: Disclosure of Information, what progress his Department has made with the review of the whistleblowing process for prison staff.

The existing Ministry of Justice whistleblowing policy is being reviewed and updated by the Ministry of Justice HR Policy team. Drafts of the updated policy and supporting guidance documents are currently with trade unions, as part of a wider consultation exercise. We are aiming to launch the new policy following the consultation exercise.

Lucy Frazer
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
20th Jul 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to his Answer of 14 July 2020 to Question 904751, what steps he is taking to make whistleblowing a (a) safe and (b) meaningful exercise for all prison staff.

The existing Ministry of Justice (MoJ) whistleblowing policy is currently being reviewed by the MoJ HR Policy team. The changes being looked at are primarily extra resources and language changes to further encourage individuals to raise any concerns. We are aiming to conclude this and launch the new policy in the Autumn.

Any Ministry of Justice employee who raises a concern using the Whistleblowing policy will be supported and will not suffer any unfair or negative treatment as a result. Where a protected disclosure is made the individual also has a legal entitlement to protection. All concerns raised in good faith will be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly, sensitively and as quickly as possible.

Any disclosures made under the MoJ whistleblowing procedure will be treated in a sensitive manner. Details of individuals will only be shared with those who need to know, in order to investigate and progress the matter.

Lucy Frazer
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
20th Jul 2020
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to his oral Answer of 14 July 2020 to Question 904751, what assessment he has made of the ability of prison staff to use the existing whistleblowing process with confidence that it is confidential.

The existing Ministry of Justice (MoJ) whistleblowing policy is currently being reviewed by the MoJ HR Policy team. The changes being looked at are primarily extra resources and language changes to further encourage individuals to raise any concerns. We are aiming to conclude this and launch the new policy in the Autumn.

Any Ministry of Justice employee who raises a concern using the Whistleblowing policy will be supported and will not suffer any unfair or negative treatment as a result. Where a protected disclosure is made the individual also has a legal entitlement to protection. All concerns raised in good faith will be taken seriously and investigated thoroughly, sensitively and as quickly as possible.

Any disclosures made under the MoJ whistleblowing procedure will be treated in a sensitive manner. Details of individuals will only be shared with those who need to know, in order to investigate and progress the matter.

Lucy Frazer
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport