Enforcement
13
Recommendations
85% accepted
Government Response
Accepted (6)Accepted in Part (5)Not Accepted (1)Under Review (1)
Recommendations in This Theme
recommendation across 3 inquiries
Across 3 inquiries
Tagged Recommendations
13 total
P2-74
Under Consideration
Fuller Inquiry
HTA require suitable qualified staff with enforcement
The Human Tissue Authority, and/or the new inspectorate, should require the organisations it licenses to ensure that any individual who provides care to deceased people is suitably qualified, experienced and …
- The government stated in December 2025 that this recommendation on the HTA setting minimum qualification standards for mortuary staff was under consideration. Full government …
Human Tissue Authority
F184
Accepted
Mid Staffs Inquiry
Enforcement by the Care Quality Commission
Observance of the duty should be policed by the Care Quality Commission, which should have powers in the last resort to prosecute in cases of serial non-compliance or serious and …
- CQC has statutory responsibility for monitoring and enforcing compliance with the duty of candour under Regulation 20 of the Health and Social Care Act …
CQC
F27
Accepted
Mid Staffs Inquiry
Responsibility for regulating and monitoring compliance
The healthcare systems regulator should promote effective enforcement by: use of a low threshold of suspicion; no tolerance of non-compliance with fundamental standards; and allowing no place for favourable assumptions, …
- CQC's enforcement policy states that it will take action proportionate to the seriousness of any breach and that it has "zero tolerance" of breaches …
CQC
F28
Accepted
Mid Staffs Inquiry
Sanctions and interventions for non-compliance
Zero tolerance: A service incapable of meeting fundamental standards should not be permitted to continue. Breach should result in regulatory consequences attributable to an organisation in the case of a …
- The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014, Regulation 22, created a criminal offence where a registered person fails to comply …
CQC
F30
Accepted
Mid Staffs Inquiry
Interim measures
The healthcare regulator must be free to require or recommend immediate protective steps where there is reasonable cause to suspect a breach of fundamental standards, even if it has yet …
- CQC has powers to impose urgent conditions on a provider's registration or to urgently suspend or cancel registration where there is a serious risk …
CQC
F33
Accepted in Part
Mid Staffs Inquiry
Interim measures
Insofar as healthcare regulators consider they do not possess any necessary interim powers, the Department of Health should consider introduction of the necessary amendments to legislation to provide such powers.
- CQC's interim powers were strengthened through amendments to the Health and Social Care Act 2008. Sections 31-32 provide powers for urgent conditions, suspension and …
Department of Health and…
F55
Accepted
Mid Staffs Inquiry
Care Quality Commission independence strategy and culture
The Care Quality Commission should review its processes as a whole to ensure that it is capable of delivering regulatory oversight and enforcement effectively, in accordance with the principles outlined …
- CQC undertook a comprehensive review of its processes following the Francis Report. The new inspection regime launched from October 2014 replaced the previous compliance-based …
CQC
F82
Accepted
Mid Staffs Inquiry
Accountability of providers' directors
Provision should be made for regulatory intervention to require the removal or suspension from office after due process of a person whom the regulator is satisfied is not or is …
- Regulation 5 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 provides that CQC can require the removal of directors who …
CQC
L18
Accepted in Part
Leveson Inquiry
Investigation Powers
The Board, being an independent self-regulatory body, should have authority to examine issues on its own initiative and have sufficient powers to carry out investigations both into suspected serious or …
- The Prime Minister stated on 29 November 2012 that he accepted the principles for independent self-regulation including own-initiative investigations (Oral Statement to Parliament, Prime …
Press
L19
Accepted in Part
Leveson Inquiry
Financial Sanctions Power
The Board should have the power to impose appropriate and proportionate sanctions, (including financial sanctions up to 1% of turnover with a maximum of £1m), on any subscriber found to …
- The Prime Minister stated on 29 November 2012 that he accepted the principles for independent self-regulation including financial sanctions (Oral Statement to Parliament, Prime …
Press
L39
Accepted in Part
Leveson Inquiry
Ring-fenced Enforcement Fund
A new regulatory body should establish a ring-fenced enforcement fund, into which receipts from fines could be paid, for the purpose of funding investigations.
- The Prime Minister stated on 29 November 2012 that he accepted the principles for independent self-regulation including enforcement (Oral Statement to Parliament, Prime Minister's …
Press
L55
Not Accepted
Leveson Inquiry
ICO Prosecution Powers Extension
The prosecution powers of the Information Commissioner should be extended to include any offence which also constitutes a breach of the data protection principles.
- Under the Data Protection Act 1998, the Information Commissioner's prosecution powers were limited to specific offences including section 55 (unlawful obtaining of data). The …
UK Government
L58
Accepted in Part
Leveson Inquiry
ICO Policy on Press Regulation
The Information Commissioner's Office should take immediate steps to prepare, adopt and publish a policy on the exercise of its formal regulatory functions in order to ensure that the press …
- Section 124 of the Data Protection Act 2018 required the Information Commissioner to prepare a code of practice containing practical guidance on the processing …
Information Commissioner