Policy and Reform Minister Chris Thomas has promised to re-examine whistleblowing procedures in government, amid concern the system was not sufficiently independent.

The government policy recommends that, at the first stage, staff raise concern with their line manager, although there are alternatives outlined if the employee does not want to do that or if they are unhappy with any response.

Julie Edge (Onchan) raised the issue in Tynwald.

She asked Mr Thomas whether he would update the policy to ensure that the Public Services Commission was informed at the first stage.

But Mr Thomas said: ’On many occasions making a disclosure to the Public Services Commission may not actually be the quickest way to expedite matters, given that they, in turn, would have to refer to the department concerned.’

However, when pressed further, Mr Thomas agreed to look into the matter in more detail.

Ms Edge said: ’If you have got a serious concern with an officer more senior than you, it is very difficult to then report that to the said officer.

’What we currently have, within the policy, is officers actually looking at their own situations.’

She added: ’In order to ensure that policy is adhered to and people have the freedom to report things openly, it needs to be independent from their own department because otherwise it could cause them implications in the future.

’I am aware that some people have had repercussions with these cases.’

Mr Thomas said the Manx Industrial Relations Service was also on hand, to ensure matters were handled correctly.