THERESA May has revealed she is aware of fresh Westminster sexual harassment allegations that have not so far come into the public domain.

The Prime Minister said “a number of issues have been raised with me” that have to date escaped media attention as she called for a “new culture of respect” in parliament.

It follows a tumultuous week in Westminster in which Defence Secretary Michael Fallon and junior whip Chris Pincher resigned over allegations about their past behaviour. A number of top Westminster figures from both the Conservatives and Labour are also under investigation, with Labour looking into a claim of rape by a party official and claims of a subsequent cover-up.

Holyrood too has been rocked by the crisis, with Scottish Government childcare minister Mark McDonald resigning on Saturday over what he called “inappropriate” actions that had been brought to his attention.

Scottish Labour has also become embroiled in the crisis, with Central Scotland MSP Monica Lennon saying she was sexually assaulted by a senior figure in her party in 2013.

Asked yesterday whether she had any prior knowledge of the allegations that have swept through Westminster, May said: “A number of stories have appeared in the press and a number of issues have been raised with me that didn’t appear in the press.

“A number of people have, in my party, been referred to the Conservative Party’s grievance procedure and arrangements have been put in place.

“And a number of people have been referred to the Cabinet Secretary where they are in ministerial positions and it’s appropriate for the Cabinet Secretary to look at these issues.”

In her speech to the CBI’s annual conference, May accepted there had been failures on behalf of political parties in the past but insisted she was “determined to get it right for the future”.

“We need to establish a new culture of respect at the centre of our public life,” she declared.

“One in which everyone can feel confident that they are working in a safe and secure environment, where complaints can be brought forward without prejudice and victims know that those complaints will be investigated properly. Political parties have not always got this right in the past. But I am determined to get it right for the future.”

In her speech to business leaders in London, May said: “What has been revealed over the last few weeks has been deeply troubling – and has understandably led to significant public unease. Women and men should be able to work free from the threat or fear of harassment, bullying or intimidation. But for too long the powerful have been able to abuse their power, and their victims have not felt able to speak out.”

May wants to establish a new common, robust and independent grievance procedure for people working in Parliament – who currently face having to confront their MP employer or go to their political party.

She said she wanted a system where people’s careers could not be damaged by unfounded rumours, where people could be friends with their colleagues and where consensual relationships could develop at work.

“This isn’t about prying into private lives,” she said. “What we are talking about is the use and abuse of power.”

First Secretary of State Damian Green was due to be interviewed yesterday as part of a Cabinet Office investigation that has been expanded to include claims pornography was found on one of his parliamentary computers in 2008. Green, who is effectively the PM’s deputy, has strongly denied the claims.

Chris Pincher became the latest Tory MP to become embroiled in controversy when he stood down from the Whips’ Office and referred himself to the party’s complaints procedure and the police following allegations over his behaviour.

The move came after a Sunday newspaper reported that Pincher had been accused of making an unwanted pass at former Olympic rower and Conservative activist Alex Story. Pincher told the newspaper: “If Mr Story has ever felt offended by anything I said then I can only apologise to him.”

In a turbulent weekend for the Tories, which saw four MPs referred to the party’s newly established disciplinary committee regarding allegations against them, Home Secretary Amber Rudd signalled MPs found guilty of sexual harassment could be sacked as part of a major overhaul of anti-harassment procedures at Westminster.

“I think that that is one of the things that I would encourage the review to look at,” she told Sky News. “It may be the case, it may not. It is wrong for us to have a knee-jerk reaction based on the past week. I think what we need to do is look at the whole issue. There needs to be a procedure put in place as soon as possible.”