Secure storage for panel sensitive material
In any future Panel inquiry, arrangements should be made for the storage of sensitive material in the Panel's premises, in a similar manner to provision made for inquiries being conducted under the Inquiries Act 2005.
How was this assessed?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedThe Government's view is that in future, specific disclosure arrangements – including in respect of information security – should be agreed between inquiries and information providers at an early stage wherever possible. Inquiries likely to require formal powers of compulsion, such as where there are concerns around a potential lack of cooperation, can be established under the Inquiries Act 2005. In addition, and as was made clear in the setting up of the Angiolini Inquiry, should it become apparent that a non-statutory inquiry's terms of reference cannot be fulfilled without the provisions of the Inquiries Act, it is open to ministers to convert an inquiry to a statutory basis.