The controversial inquiry into a government leak has ended - but the outcome remains unknown.

Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas has rejected descriptions of the Public Services Commission investigation - into how the media found out the reasons behind Rob Callister’s resignation from the Department of Health and Social Care - as a ’witch-hunt’.

He confirmed the inquiry was not set up in response to a complaint and defended the decision to hold the investigation.

However, he was tight-lipped on the outcome of the inquiry and did not respond to a question on whether Health Minister Kate Beecroft’s actions were also the subject of an investigation.

He said he was limited in what he could say at this stage, because of the government’s obligation as an employer.

Our sister paper the Isle of Man Examiner revealed last month that Rob Callister had resigned from the DHSC following personal differences between Mrs Beecroft and her department’s chief executive Malcolm Couch.

She asked the political members to sign a letter relating to Dr Couch’s continued position, effectively a vote of no confidence.

Mr Callister refused to sign the letter and subsequently resigned.

Following the intervention of Chief Minister Howard Quayle, Mrs Beecroft and Dr Couch have put aside their differences.

But the government focus appears to have been on how the media found out about the issue, rather than what happened, and an investigation by the PSC was instigated.

We posed a series of questions to Mr Thomas. Although he did not answer them individually, he did provide the Manx Independent with a short statement.

Mr Thomas said: ’Given the confidential nature and subject of the investigation, which has now concluded, there is very little I can say about it.

’However I can reassure you that it was in no way a "witch-hunt", nor was it prompted by an external complaint. It was instigated by the Public Services Commission in recognition of the PSC’s duty of care to its employees and in particular, that staffing matters should be respected as personal and confidential.

’I believe this view is widely accepted amongst public and private sector employers, is recognised in both freedom of information and data protection legislation, and neither detracts from our commitment to open and transparent government, nor is relevant in the context of our whistle-blowing policy.’

The PSC appointed top advocate Paul Morris to lead the investigation and it is understood even the chief minister was questioned.

However, no one at Isle of Man Newspapers was approached and editor Richard Butt made it clear that the newsroom would not reveal its sources in any case.

Giving evidence to the social affairs policy review committee this week, Mrs Beecroft was asked about her working relationship with Dr Couch. Committee member Martyn Perkins MHK suggested: ’It seems pretty good here - you’ve got a good rapport.’

She replied: ’All the department members, myself and Mr Couch are working as a team to get these things done. We know we’ve got a huge challenge ahead of us but we are determined to rise to that challenge.’

The questions we asked Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas:

Was the investigation into the alleged leaking of information on the circumstances surrounding Mr Callister’s resignation from the DHSC in response to a complaint?

If the answer to the above question is ’yes’, are you in a position to say from whom the complaint was received? If the answer is ’no’, why was the investigation instigated?

How long is the inquiry expected to take?

Will the findings of the inquiry be made public?

How much is the inquiry expected to cost?

What powers does the inquiry have to demand answers to its questions - applicable to government employees, members of Tynwald and those in the private sector?

Will there be any inquiry into the allegation that a government minister (Mrs Beecroft) asked department members to sign a letter relating to a senior officer’s continued position at the department, broadly interpreted as a vote of no confidence?

Do you have any concern that the inquiry into the ’leaking’ of information may put off government employees from raising valid concerns under the whistle-blowing policy?

How does the inquiry fit in with the commitment to an open and transparent government?

What is your response to the description of the inquiry, in some quarters, as a ’witch-hunt’?