3rd Report - Leadership of the Criminal Cases Review Commission
Select Committee
Justice Committee
HC 749
23 May 2025
Government Response (AI assessment · 42 of 42 classified)
Accepted
10
Acknowledged
14
Deferred
13
Rejected
2
Recommendations
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Conclusions (2) Observations and findings — click to expand
4
Conclusion
Rejected
The Committee does not understand why the CCRC would consider itself bound by the government’s General Election guidance. Even if it did consider the guidance applicable, we do not understand why applying that guidance would lead to the conclusion that the report should not be published, given that this was …
Government Response Summary
The government rejects the committee's view, asserting that the CCRC, as an NDPB, was bound by the General Election guidance. The Ministry of Justice, with agreement from the Cabinet Office, concluded that publishing the Henley report during the pre-election period would have been contrary to the guidance's principles.
28
Conclusion
Rejected
We are concerned about the CCRC’s independence and its relationship with the Ministry of Justice. Independence requires the chair and senior leadership to prioritise and defend the interests and constitutional functions of the institution above all. In practice, this does not appear to be happening. This is demonstrated by the …
Government Response Summary
The government explains and defends the delay in publishing the Henley report, stating it adhered to pre-election guidance for NDPBs. It asserts that its relationship with the CCRC is based on the Cabinet Office's Arm's Length Body Sponsorship Code of Good Practice, effectively refuting the committee's concern about independence.