Recommendation MAI-57: Amend section 21 for witness interview requirements
From Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 3: Radicalisation and Preventability, published 2 March 2023.
Recommendation
I recommend that the Ministry of Justice give consideration to amending section 21 of the 2005 Act to include the express provision for requiring a potential witness to participate in an interview.
In brief (written by this site)
In February 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that this recommendation remains in progress, explaining that it is considering wider reforms to the Inquiries Act 2005 and that the Ministry of Justice will consider the proposal in light of those reforms, with any required legislative changes taken forward as part of a broader package (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). The UK Government had previously registered the recommendation as partially accepted in November 2025 (Cabinet Office response, Nov 2025).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
Partially accepted
Delivery
Cabinet Office says in progress (27 February 2026)
Following the recommendations of the Statutory Inquiries Committee on the efficacy of the law and practice relating to statutory inquiries under the Inquiries Act 2005 the Cabinet Office is currently considering wider reforms of the Inquiries Act as well as measures to strengthen the public inquiries system as a whole. These Inquiry recommendations will be considered by MoJ in light of these wider reforms and changes needed in legislation will be taken forward as part of this broader package.
Earlier statement on delivery (1)
Cabinet Office (14 November 2025)
Following the recommendations of the Statutory Inquiries Committee on the efficacy of the law and practice relating to statutory inquiries under the Inquiries Act 2005 the Cabinet Office is currently considering wider reforms of the Inquiries Act as well as measures to strengthen the public inquiries system as a whole. These Inquiry recommendations will be considered by MoJ in light of these wider reforms and changes needed in legislation will be taken forward as part of this broader package.
From: Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, original version (data file)
Source
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- UK Government
Response - Cabinet Office
Delivery statement