Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order amends the Schedule to the Public Interest Disclosure (Prescribed Persons) Order 2014 (the “2014 Order”).

The Employment Rights Act 1996 (the “1996 Act”) provides protection for workers who suffer a detriment or are dismissed as a result of whistleblowing by making a qualifying disclosure within the meaning of section 43B of the 1996 Act in accordance with any of sections 43C to 43H of that Act. Section 43F of the 1996 Act provides that a worker will be protected by the 1996 Act if he or she makes a qualifying disclosure to a person prescribed in the 2014 Order reasonably believing that the failure disclosed falls within the matters in respect of which that person is prescribed and that the information disclosed, and any allegation contained in it, are substantially true. The Schedule to the 2014 Order lists the prescribed persons and the matters in respect of which they are prescribed for the purposes of section 43F.

This Order amends the Schedule to the 2014 Order to prescribe matters in respect of which the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, the Secretary of State for Transport and the Treasury are prescribed persons. The newly prescribed matters concern the sanctions-related functions of these prescribed persons.

A full impact assessment has not been produced for this Order as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.