“These reports lay bare the inadequacy of the current process that is neither transparent, formal nor independent.
“It is simply not good enough that there is currently no formal process for a civil servant to raise complaints against a minister.
“We’ve recently seen a major win for staff working within the Palace of Westminster, where there will now be a clear and independent process for investigating any complaint made against an MP.
“It’s unconscionable that 100 yards away in Whitehall, if the same type of complaint were raised against a minister in a UK government department then no such investigation would take place and staff would have no access to justice.
“Civil servants deserve to feel safe and respected in their workplace, and ministers deserve to have a fair hearing, with any complaints dealt with in a transparent manner.
“The government must stop dragging its feet on this; we urgently need an independent investigation process to properly protect staff. Change is long overdue.”