Employment Rights Act 1996 (c. 18)

[F1 Part IVA E+W+S Protected disclosures

Textual Amendments

F1 Pt. IVA (ss. 43A-43L) inserted (2.7.1998 for specified purposes and otherwise 2.7.1999) by 1998 c. 23, s. 1; S.I. 1999/1547, art. 2

43A Meaning of “protected disclosure”. E+W+S

In this Act a “ protected disclosure ” means a qualifying disclosure (as defined by section 43B) which is made by a worker in accordance with any of sections 43C to 43H.

43B Disclosures qualifying for protection. E+W+S

(1) In this Part a “ qualifying disclosure ” means any disclosure of information which, in the reasonable belief of the worker making the disclosure, [F2 is made in the public interest and ] tends to show one or more of the following—

(a) that a criminal offence has been committed, is being committed or is likely to be committed,

(b) that a person has failed, is failing or is likely to fail to comply with any legal obligation to which he is subject,

(c) that a miscarriage of justice has occurred, is occurring or is likely to occur,

(d) that the health or safety of any individual has been, is being or is likely to be endangered,

(e) that the environment has been, is being or is likely to be damaged, or

(f) that information tending to show any matter falling within any one of the preceding paragraphs has been, is being or is likely to be deliberately concealed.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), it is immaterial whether the relevant failure occurred, occurs or would occur in the United Kingdom or elsewhere, and whether the law applying to it is that of the United Kingdom or of any other country or territory.

(3) A disclosure of information is not a qualifying disclosure if the person making the disclosure commits an offence by making it.

(4) A disclosure of information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege (or, in Scotland, to confidentiality as between client and professional legal adviser) could be maintained in legal proceedings is not a qualifying disclosure if it is made by a person to whom the information had been disclosed in the course of obtaining legal advice.

(5) In this Part “ the relevant failure ”, in relation to a qualifying disclosure, means the matter falling within paragraphs (a) to (f) of subsection (1).

Textual Amendments

F2 Words in s. 43B(1) inserted (25.6.2013) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 17, 103(2) (with s. 24(6))

43C Disclosure to employer or other responsible person. E+W+S

(1) A qualifying disclosure is made in accordance with this section if the worker makes the disclosure F3 ...—

(a) to his employer, or

(b) where the worker reasonably believes that the relevant failure relates solely or mainly to—

(i) the conduct of a person other than his employer, or

(ii) any other matter for which a person other than his employer has legal responsibility,

to that other person.

(2) A worker who, in accordance with a procedure whose use by him is authorised by his employer, makes a qualifying disclosure to a person other than his employer, is to be treated for the purposes of this Part as making the qualifying disclosure to his employer.

Textual Amendments

F3 Words in s. 43C(1) omitted (25.6.2013) by virtue of Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 18(1)(a), 103(2) (with s. 24(6))

43D Disclosure to legal adviser. E+W+S

A qualifying disclosure is made in accordance with this section if it is made in the course of obtaining legal advice.

43E Disclosure to Minister of the Crown. E+W+S

A qualifying disclosure is made in accordance with this section if—

(a) the worker’s employer is—

(i) an individual appointed under any enactment [F4 (including any enactment comprised in, or in an instrument made under, an Act of the Scottish Parliament)] by a Minister of the Crown [F4 or a member of the Scottish Executive], or

(ii) a body any of whose members are so appointed, and

(b) the disclosure is made F5 ... to a Minister of the Crown [F4 or a member of the Scottish Executive ] .

Textual Amendments

F4 Words in s. 43E inserted (27.7.2000) by S.I. 2000/2040, art. 2, Sch. Pt. I para. 19(2)(3) (with art. 3)

F5 Words in s. 43E(b) omitted (25.6.2013) by virtue of Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 18(1)(b), 103(2) (with s. 24(6))

43F Disclosure to prescribed person. E+W+S

(1) A qualifying disclosure is made in accordance with this section if the worker—

(a) makes the disclosure F6 ... to a person prescribed by an order made by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this section, and

(b) reasonably believes—

(i) that the relevant failure falls within any description of matters in respect of which that person is so prescribed, and

(ii) that the information disclosed, and any allegation contained in it, are substantially true.

(2) An order prescribing persons for the purposes of this section may specify persons or descriptions of persons, and shall specify the descriptions of matters in respect of which each person, or persons of each description, is or are prescribed.

Textual Amendments

F6 Words in s. 43F(1)(a) omitted (25.6.2013) by virtue of Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 18(1)(c), 103(2) (with s. 24(6))

[F7 43FA Prescribed persons: duty to report on disclosures of information E+W+S

(1) The Secretary of State may make regulations requiring a person prescribed for the purposes of section 43F to produce an annual report on disclosures of information made to the person by workers.

(2) The regulations must set out the matters that are to be covered in a report, but must not require a report to provide detail that would enable either of the following to be identified—

(a) a worker who has made a disclosure;

(b) an employer or other person in respect of whom a disclosure has been made.

(3) The regulations must make provision about the publication of a report, and such provision may include (but is not limited to) any of the following requirements—

(a) to send the report to the Secretary of State for laying before Parliament;

(b) to include the report in another report or in information required to be published by the prescribed person;

(c) to publish the report on a website.

(4) The regulations may make provision about the time period within which a report must be produced and published.

(5) Regulations under subsections (2) to (4) may make different provision for different prescribed persons.]

Textual Amendments

F7 S. 43FA inserted (1.1.2016) by Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (c. 26), ss. 148(2), 164(1); S.I. 2015/2029, reg. 2(a)

43G Disclosure in other cases. E+W+S

(1) A qualifying disclosure is made in accordance with this section if—

F8 ( a ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b) [F9 the worker] reasonably believes that the information disclosed, and any allegation contained in it, are substantially true,

(c) he does not make the disclosure for purposes of personal gain,

(d) any of the conditions in subsection (2) is met, and

(e) in all the circumstances of the case, it is reasonable for him to make the disclosure.

(2) The conditions referred to in subsection (1)(d) are—

(a) that, at the time he makes the disclosure, the worker reasonably believes that he will be subjected to a detriment by his employer if he makes a disclosure to his employer or in accordance with section 43F,

(b) that, in a case where no person is prescribed for the purposes of section 43F in relation to the relevant failure, the worker reasonably believes that it is likely that evidence relating to the relevant failure will be concealed or destroyed if he makes a disclosure to his employer, or

(c) that the worker has previously made a disclosure of substantially the same information—

(i) to his employer, or

(ii) in accordance with section 43F.

(3) In determining for the purposes of subsection (1)(e) whether it is reasonable for the worker to make the disclosure, regard shall be had, in particular, to—

(a) the identity of the person to whom the disclosure is made,

(b) the seriousness of the relevant failure,

(c) whether the relevant failure is continuing or is likely to occur in the future,

(d) whether the disclosure is made in breach of a duty of confidentiality owed by the employer to any other person,

(e) in a case falling within subsection (2)(c)(i) or (ii), any action which the employer or the person to whom the previous disclosure in accordance with section 43F was made has taken or might reasonably be expected to have taken as a result of the previous disclosure, and

(f) in a case falling within subsection (2)(c)(i), whether in making the disclosure to the employer the worker complied with any procedure whose use by him was authorised by the employer.

(4) For the purposes of this section a subsequent disclosure may be regarded as a disclosure of substantially the same information as that disclosed by a previous disclosure as mentioned in subsection (2)(c) even though the subsequent disclosure extends to information about action taken or not taken by any person as a result of the previous disclosure.

Textual Amendments

F8 S. 43G(1)(a) omitted (25.6.2013) by virtue of Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 18(2)(a), 103(2) (with s. 24(6))

F9 Words in s. 43G(1)(b) substituted (25.6.2013) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 18(2)(b), 103(2) (with s. 24(6))

43H Disclosure of exceptionally serious failure. E+W+S

(1) A qualifying disclosure is made in accordance with this section if—

F10 ( a ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(b) [F11 the worker] reasonably believes that the information disclosed, and any allegation contained in it, are substantially true,

(c) he does not make the disclosure for purposes of personal gain,

(d) the relevant failure is of an exceptionally serious nature, and

(e) in all the circumstances of the case, it is reasonable for him to make the disclosure.

(2) In determining for the purposes of subsection (1)(e) whether it is reasonable for the worker to make the disclosure, regard shall be had, in particular, to the identity of the person to whom the disclosure is made.

Textual Amendments

F10 S. 43H(1)(a) omitted (25.6.2013) by virtue of Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 18(3)(a), 103(2) (with s. 24(6))

F11 Words in s. 43H(1)(b) substituted (25.6.2013) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 18(3)(b), 103(2) (with s. 24(6))

43J Contractual duties of confidentiality. E+W+S

(1) Any provision in an agreement to which this section applies is void in so far as it purports to preclude the worker from making a protected disclosure.

(2) This section applies to any agreement between a worker and his employer (whether a worker’s contract or not), including an agreement to refrain from instituting or continuing any proceedings under this Act or any proceedings for breach of contract.

43K Extension of meaning of “worker” etc. for Part IVA. E+W+S

(1) For the purposes of this Part “ worker ” includes an individual who is not a worker as defined by section 230(3) but who—

(a) works or worked for a person in circumstances in which—

(i) he is or was introduced or supplied to do that work by a third person, and

(ii) the terms on which he is or was engaged to do the work are or were in practice substantially determined not by him but by the person for whom he works or worked, by the third person or by both of them,

(b) contracts or contracted with a person, for the purposes of that person’s business, for the execution of work to be done in a place not under the control or management of that person and would fall within section 230(3)(b) if for “personally” in that provision there were substituted “(whether personally or otherwise)”,

[F12 ( ba ) works or worked as a person performing services under a contract entered into by him with [F13 NHS England] [F14 under [F15 section 83(2), 84, 92, 100, 107, 115(4), 117 or 134 of, or Schedule 12 to,] the National Health Service Act 2006 or with a Local Health Board under [F16 section 41(2)(b), 42, 50, 57, 64 or 92 of, or Schedule 7 to,] the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006],]

[F17 ( bb ) works or worked as a person performing services under a contract entered into by him with a Health Board under section 17J [F18 or 17Q] of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978,]

(c) [F19 works or worked as a person providing services] in accordance with arrangements made—

(i) by [F20 [F13 NHS England] [F21 under section 126 of the National Health Service Act 2006,] or][F22 Local Health Board] under [F23 section 71 or 80 of the National Health Service (Wales) Act 2006], or

( ii ) by a Health Board under section [F24 2C, 17AA, 17C,] F25 . . . 25, 26 or 27 of the National Health Service (Scotland) Act 1978, or

[F26 (cb) is or was provided with work experience provided pursuant to a course of education or training approved by, or under arrangements with, the Nursing and Midwifery Council in accordance with article 15(6)(a) of the Nursing and Midwifery Order 2001 (S.I. 2002/253), or]

(d) is or was provided with work experience provided pursuant to a training course or programme or with training for employment (or with both) otherwise than—

(i) under a contract of employment, or

(ii) by an educational establishment on a course run by that establishment;

and any reference to a worker’s contract, to employment or to a worker being “ employed ” shall be construed accordingly.

(2) For the purposes of this Part “ employer ” includes—

(a) in relation to a worker falling within paragraph (a) of subsection (1), the person who substantially determines or determined the terms on which he is or was engaged,

[F27 (aa) in relation to a worker falling within paragraph (ba) of that subsection, [F28 [F13 NHS England], or the] Local Health Board referred to in that paragraph,]

[F29 (ab) in relation to a worker falling within paragraph (bb) of that subsection, the Health Board referred to in that paragraph,]

(b) in relation to a worker falling within paragraph (c) of that subsection, [F30 NHS England or the board] referred to in that paragraph, and

(c) in relation to a worker falling within paragraph [F31 (cb) or] (d) of that subsection, the person providing the work experience or training.

(3) In this section “ educational establishment ” includes any university, college, school or other educational establishment.

[F32 (4) The Secretary of State may by order make amendments to this section as to what individuals count as “ workers ” for the purposes of this Part (despite not being within the definition in section 230(3)).

F32 ( 5 ) An order under subsection (4) may not make an amendment that has the effect of removing a category of individual unless the Secretary of State is satisfied that there are no longer any individuals in that category.]

Textual Amendments

F12 S. 43K(1)(ba) inserted (1.4.2004 for E.W.) by Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (c. 43), ss. 184, 199(1)(4), Sch. 11 para. 65(2); S.I. 2004/288, art. 5(2)(x) (with transitional provision in art. 7(11)) (as amended by S.I. 2004/866, S.I. 2004/1009 and S.I. 2005/2925); S.I. 2004/480, art. 4(2)(bb) (as amended by S.I. 2004/1019 and S.I. 2006/345)

F13 Words in s. 43K substituted (1.7.2022) by Health and Care Act 2022 (c. 31), s. 186(6), Sch. 1 para. 1(1)(2); S.I. 2022/734, reg. 2(a), Sch. (with regs. 13, 29, 30)

F14 Words in s. 43K(1)(ba) substituted (1.3.2007) by National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 43), ss. 2, 8(2), Sch. 1 para. 178(a) (with Sch. 3 Pt. 1)

F15 Words in s. 43K(1)(ba) substituted (25.6.2013) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 20(2)(a), 103(2) (with s. 24(6))

F16 Words in s. 43K(1)(ba) substituted (25.6.2013) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 20(2)(b), 103(2) (with s. 24(6))

F17 S. 43K(1)(bb) inserted (1.4.2004) by The Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2004 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/957), art. 2, Sch. para. 8(a)(i)

F18 Words in s. 43K(1)(bb) inserted (25.6.2013) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 20(3), 103(2) (with s. 24(6))

F19 Words in s. 43K(1)(c) substituted (25.6.2013) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 20(4)(a), 103(2) (with s. 24(6))

F20 Words in s. 43K(1)(c)(i) inserted (1.10.2002) by National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002 (c. 17), s. 2(5), Sch. 2 Pt. 2 para. 63; S.I. 2002/2478, arts. 2(1), 3(1)

F21 Words in s. 43K(1)(c)(i) inserted (1.3.2007) by National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 43), ss. 2, 8(2), Sch. 1 para. 178(b)(i) (with Sch. 3 Pt. 1)

F22 Words in s. 43K(1)(c)(i) substituted (1.4.2007) by The References to Health Authorities Order 2007 (S.I. 2007/961), art. 3, Sch. {para. 27(2)}

F23 Words in s. 43K(1)(c)(i) substituted (1.3.2007) by National Health Service (Consequential Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 43), ss. 2, 8(2), Sch. 1 para. 178(b)(ii) (with Sch. 3 Pt. 1)

F24 Words in s. 43K(1)(c)(ii) inserted (25.6.2013) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 20(4)(b), 103(2) (with s. 24(6))

F25 Word in s. 43K(1)(c)(ii) repealed (1.4.2004) by The Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2004 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/957), art. 2, Sch. para. 8(a)(iii)

F26 S. 43K(1)(cb) inserted (6.4.2015) by The Protected Disclosures (Extension of Meaning of Worker) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/491), arts. 1, 2(2)

F27 S. 43K(2)(aa) inserted (1.4.2004 for E.W.) by Health and Social Care (Community Health and Standards) Act 2003 (c. 43), ss. 184, 199(1)(4), Sch. 11 para. 65(3); S.I. 2004/288, art. 5(2)(x) (as amended by S.I. 2004/866, S.I. 2004/1009 and S.I. 2005/2925); S.I. 2004/480, art. 4(2)(bb) (as amended by S.I. 2004/1019 and S.I. 2006/345)

F28 Words in s. 43K(2)(aa) substituted (1.4.2013) by Health and Social Care Act 2012 (c. 7), s. 306(4), Sch. 5 para. 73(c); S.I. 2013/160, art. 2(2) (with arts. 7-9)

F29 S. 43K(2)(ab) inserted (1.4.2004) by The Primary Medical Services (Scotland) Act 2004 (Consequential Modifications) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/957), art. 2, Sch. para. 8(b)

F30 Words in s. 43K(2)(b) substituted (1.7.2022) by Health and Care Act 2022 (c. 31), s. 186(6), Sch. 1 para. 5; S.I. 2022/734, reg. 2(a), Sch. (with regs. 13, 29, 30)

F31 Words in s. 43K(2)(c) inserted (6.4.2015) by The Protected Disclosures (Extension of Meaning of Worker) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/491), arts. 1, 2(3)

F32 S. 43K(4)(5) inserted (25.4.2013 for specified purposes) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 20(7), 103(1)(i)(2) (with s. 24(6))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 43K(1)(ba) modified (E.) (1.4.2004) by The General Medical Services and Personal Medical Services Transitional and Consequential Provisions Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/865), art. 109(2)(f)

C2 S. 43K(1)(ba) modified (W.) (1.4.2004) by The General Medical Services Transitional and Consequential Provisions (Wales) (No. 2) Order 2004 (S.I. 2004/1016), art. 85(2)(f)

C3 S. 43K(1)(bb) modified (S.) (1.4.2004) by The General Medical Services and Section 17C Agreements (Transitional and other Ancillary Provisions) (Scotland) Order 2004 (S.S.I. 2004/163), art. 96(2)(d)

C4 S. 43K(1)(c)(ii) modified (temp) (25.6.2013) by Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (c. 24), ss. 20(10), 103(2) (with s. 24(6))

[F33 43KA Application of this Part and related provisions to police E+W+S

(1) For the purposes of—

(a) this Part,

(b) section 47B and sections 48 and 49 so far as relating to that section, and

(c) section 103A and the other provisions of Part 10 so far as relating to the right not to be unfairly dismissed in a case where the dismissal is unfair by virtue of section 103A,

a person who holds, otherwise than under a contract of employment, the office of constable or an appointment as a police cadet shall be treated as an employee employed by the relevant officer under a contract of employment; and any reference to a worker being “ employed ” and to his “ employer ” shall be construed accordingly.

(2) In this section “ the relevant officer ” means—

(a) in relation to a member of a police force or a special constable appointed for a police area, the chief officer of police;

[F34 (b) in relation to a member of a police force seconded to the [F35 National Crime Agency to serve as a National Crime Agency officer], that Agency; and]

(d) in relation to any other person holding the office of constable or an appointment as police cadet, the person who has the direction and control of the body of constables or cadets in question.]

Textual Amendments

F33 S. 43KA inserted (1.4.2004) by Police Reform Act 2002 (c. 30), ss. 37(1), 108(2)-(5); S.I. 2004/913, art. 2(b)

F34 S. 43KA(2)(b) substituted for s. 43KA(2)(b)(c) (1.4.2006) by Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c. 15), ss. 59, 178, Sch. 4 para. 85; S.I. 2006/378, art. 4(1), Sch. (subject to art. 4(2)-(7))

F35 Words in s. 43KA(2)(b) substituted (7.10.2013) by Crime and Courts Act 2013 (c. 22), s. 61(2), Sch. 8 para. 50; S.I. 2013/1682, art. 3(v)

43L Other interpretative provisions. E+W+S

(1) In this Part—

• “ qualifying disclosure ” has the meaning given by section 43B;

• “ the relevant failure ”, in relation to a qualifying disclosure, has the meaning given by section 43B(5).

(2) In determining for the purposes of this Part whether a person makes a disclosure for purposes of personal gain, there shall be disregarded any reward payable by or under any enactment.

(3) Any reference in this Part to the disclosure of information shall have effect, in relation to any case where the person receiving the information is already aware of it, as a reference to bringing the information to his attention.]