Whistleblower spies are left out in the cold by new Government rules

Officers from MI5, MI6 and the GCHQ listening station who raise the alarm over their roles must instead have the issue dealt with internally.

However, other Government departments will be covered by the new code of practice designed to ensure public service honesty, integrity and independence.

The rules – in the proposed Constitutional Renewal Bill – will ensure grievances are investigated by independent officials from other departments.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw's decision to exclude spies comes despite the huge growth in size and activities of the main agencies – plus continuing questions over their role in the Iraq war run-up.

The head of Whitehall's watchdog last week demanded that the spooks be given the protection of an independent investigation.

First Civil Service Commissioner Janet Paraskeva, who reports directly to the Queen, asked a committee of MPs considering the Bill: "Where is the regulatory apparatus for our security services?

"We are asking questions about why all these organisations are excluded from some kind of regulation.

"Why should those civil servants not have the same right of access as other civil servants to an outside body if, in fact, they are concerned about what they have been asked to do?"

Previously, GCHQ officers have been able to go to the Commissioner with grievances, but the new Bill will remove that right and bring them in line with the other security services.

Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell said MI5 and MI6 had their own codes of practice and complaints procedures.

He added: "There is an independent person that they can go to and that person can then refer those complaints directly to the Prime Minister."