Department for Work and Pensions: Political Impartiality
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, pursuant to the Answer of 9 January 2025 to Question 21056 on DWP: Political Impartiality, whether her Department holds information on a disciplinary investigation into party political campaigning by officials in her Department during the Rochdale by-election in February and March 2024.
Answered by Andrew Western
As explained in the Answer of 9 January 2025, details of disciplinary investigations are maintained locally. Investigations and informal sanctions are not centrally recorded.
We have been made aware of specific allegations made in relation to employee actions during the Rochdale by-election in February and March 2024, and stated at the time that these would be investigated. The DWP will not comment further on matters pertaining to individual members of staff.
Given the way information is recorded, it is not possible to confirm all investigations that may have taken place or be on-going relating to this, or any by-election, without contacting all line managers to confirm locally held information.
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