Independent Reviews

Independent review of the loan charge — a policy requiring workers who used disguised remuneration tax avoidance schemes to pay back tax. Made 20 recommendations to make the charge more proportionate.

Independent review examining whether protections for England's National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty were still fit for purpose. Made 27 proposals to reinvigorate designated landscapes and strengthen their role in nature recovery.

Independent review of the role of family and relationships in reducing female reoffending and intergenerational crime. Made 33 recommendations on strengthening community-based alternatives to custody and improving family contact for women in prison.

Independent review of post-18 education and funding in England examining the balance between higher education and further education, tuition fees, and student finance.

Independent review of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 examining the effectiveness of the legislation, the role of the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, and the transparency in supply chains provision.

Independent review of school exclusion in England. Found certain groups of children disproportionately affected by exclusion and that too many schools were using off-rolling to improve their results.

Report of the Digital Competition Expert Panel examining competition in digital markets and recommending a new pro-competition regulatory framework for digital platforms to ensure markets remain open and competitive.

Independent review examining how the Fit and Proper Persons test operates for NHS directors. Found the test was applied inconsistently and made 7 recommendations to strengthen accountability for senior NHS leaders.

Independent review of the Mental Health Act 1983 examining the rising rates of detention and the disproportionate number of people from BAME communities detained under the Act.

Independent review into why large housing sites are built out slowly, examining the gap between planning permissions granted and homes completed and recommending ways to accelerate housing delivery on larger sites.

Independent review examining the use of gross negligence manslaughter and culpable homicide prosecutions in healthcare, making recommendations on thresholds, guidance for prosecutors and support for medical professionals.

Independent review of building regulations and fire safety commissioned following the Grenfell Tower fire. Concluded the current regulatory system was not fit for purpose and recommended a new framework for higher-risk residential buildings.

Independent review of the emergency response to the Manchester Arena bombing. Found significant failings in inter-agency coordination, communication, and the declaration of a major incident.

Independent review of foster care provision in England examining recruitment and retention of foster carers, support for children in foster care, and the role of independent fostering agencies, making 36 recommendations for reform.

Independent review examining the Hillsborough families' experiences of public institutions following the April 2016 inquest conclusions, documenting their suffering and making 25 points of learning about how the state should treat bereaved families.

Independent review of deaths and serious incidents in police custody. Examined systemic failures including poor use of risk assessment, inadequate healthcare provision, and disproportionate use of restraint on BAME individuals.

Independent review of mental health and employers. Proposed a framework for employers to better support the mental health of their employees, with specific recommendations for the public sector.

Independent review of the electricity supply chain examining how to reduce energy costs for consumers and businesses while meeting climate targets. Made 67 recommendations on reforming energy market regulation and pricing.

Independent review examining how the UK can develop and grow its artificial intelligence industry, making recommendations on data access, skills, research investment and adoption across the economy.

Independent review examining ethnic and cultural diversity of UK FTSE 350 boards. Set a target for each FTSE 100 company to have at least one director from an ethnic minority background by 2021 and each FTSE 250 company by 2024.

Independent review examining how the UK can maintain and grow its world-leading creative industries. Made 12 recommendations covering skills, technology, IP protection, diversity and international positioning.

Independent review examining the treatment of and outcomes for BAME individuals in the criminal justice system. Found significant disproportionality at every stage from stop and search through to prison.

Independent review into the role of family ties in reducing male prisoner reoffending. Found that family visits reduce reoffending by 39% and made 19 recommendations to strengthen family contact and family support across the prison estate.

Independent review of modern working practices examining the rise of the gig economy, zero-hours contracts, and new forms of employment. Recommended a new framework to ensure all work is fair and decent.

Independent review examining the NHS estate in England, identifying underutilised assets and proposing how better use of NHS property could generate capital to reinvest in patient care and support the Five Year Forward View.