Accountability
Recommendations related to accountability
47
Recommendations
91% accepted
Government Response
Accepted (28)Accepted in Part (15)Under Review (3)Awaiting Response (1)
Recommendations in This Theme
recommendation across 15 inquiries
Across 15 inquiries
Tagged Recommendations
47 total
CR12
Response Pending
Cranston Inquiry
Independent external oversight body
An independent external body should be given responsibility for the regular assessment of the effectiveness and efficiency of HM Coastguard. Consideration should be given to extending the remit of His …
No formal government response has been recorded for this recommendation. No independent verification has been carried out.
Department for Transport
P2-11
Accepted in Part
Fuller Inquiry
Senior managers understand DI role and accountability
NHS trusts should ensure that senior managers, including the Chief Executive, have a clear understanding of the role of the Designated Individual, their lines of accountability, and the individual legal …
- The government stated in December 2025 that this recommendation on ensuring senior managers understand the Designated Individual role was accepted in principle. Full government …
NHS England
P2-25
Accepted in Part
Grenfell Tower Inquiry
Maintain public record of inquiry recommendations
That it be made a legal requirement for the government to maintain a publicly accessible record of recommendations made by select committees, coroners and public inquiries together with a description …
- The government accepted this recommendation in principle in February 2025 (Government Response to Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 2 Report, MHCLG, February 2025). - Public …
UK Government
IBI-11d
Accepted in Part
Infected Blood Inquiry
Ministerial Reasons for Disagreement
If the minister disagrees with the recommendation, they must set out in detail and publish reasons for this disagreement which are sufficient to satisfy PACAC that the matter has been …
- The Government stated in December 2024 that it accepted the principles behind this recommendation regarding the requirement for ministers to publish detailed reasons for …
UK Government
IBI-12a
Accepted
Infected Blood Inquiry
Implementation Commitment Within 12 Months
Within the next 12 months, the Government should consider and either commit to implementing the recommendations which I make, or give sufficient reason, in sufficient detail for others to understand, …
- The Government published its response to the Infected Blood Inquiry's recommendations on 17 December 2024, within the 12 months recommended from the May 2024 …
UK Government
IBI-12b
Accepted
Infected Blood Inquiry
Parliamentary Progress Report
During that period, and before the end of this year – the Government should report back to Parliament as to the progress made on considering and implementing the recommendations.
- The Government reported to Parliament on progress on 17 December 2024 by publishing its response to the Inquiry's recommendations, within the recommended deadline of …
UK Government
IBI-4a(iv)
Accepted in Part
Infected Blood Inquiry
Individual Duty of Candour for Leaders
Statutory duty of candour: The statutory duties of candour in England, Scotland, Wales (and Northern Ireland, when introduced) should be extended to cover those individuals in leadership positions in the …
- The Government stated in December 2024 that it had accepted this recommendation in principle and launched a 12-week consultation on regulating NHS managers in …
UK Government
IBI-4a(v)
Accepted in Part
Infected Blood Inquiry
Leadership Accountability for Safety
Statutory duty of candour: Individuals in leadership positions should be required by the terms of their appointment and by secondary legislation to record, consider and respond to any concern about …
- The Government stated in December 2024 that it accepted this recommendation in principle, referencing the Learn from Patient Safety Events service and the importance …
UK Government
IBI-5a
Accepted in Part
Infected Blood Inquiry
Civil Service Statutory Duty of Candour
The Government should reconsider whether, in the light of the facts revealed by this Inquiry, it is sufficient to continue to rely on the current non-statutory duties in the Civil …
- The Government stated in December 2024 that the Prime Minister had committed to legislation introducing a statutory duty of candour for public authorities and …
UK Government
IBI-5b
Accepted in Part
Infected Blood Inquiry
Monitoring Non-Statutory Duties
If, on review, the Government considers that it is sufficient to rely on the current non-statutory duties in the Civil Service Code, it should nonetheless introduce a statutory duty of …
- The Government stated in December 2024 that it accepted this recommendation in principle and was considering the extent of statutory duties for senior civil …
UK Government
IBI-5c
Accepted in Part
Infected Blood Inquiry
Ministerial Duty of Candour
The Government should consider the extent to which Ministers should be subject to a duty beyond their current duty to Parliament under the Ministerial Code.
- The Government stated in December 2024 that it would consider the extent to which Ministers should be subject to a duty beyond the Ministerial …
UK Government
IBI-9b
Accepted
Infected Blood Inquiry
Trust/Board Action on Peer Reviews
That NHS Trusts and Health Boards should be required to deliberate on peer review findings and give favourable consideration to implementing the changes identified with a view to ensuring comprehensive, …
- The Government's implementation dashboard records this recommendation as: Accepted in principle by the UK Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive. Accepted in full …
UK Government
ANG-12
Accepted
Angiolini Inquiry
Officers held to higher standard with fettered privacy rights
With immediate effect, police forces should convey to all existing and prospective officers and staff that they must be held to a higher standard of behaviour and accountability than members …
- The government accepted this recommendation on 25 March 2024, with the NPCC Chair confirming all recommendations were accepted (Government accepts all recommendations made by …
National Police Chiefs C…
ETI-22
Under Consideration
Edinburgh Tram Inquiry
Civil Sanctions for Misleading Reports
Where a company, including an ALEO, knowingly submits a report or other information to local authority officials that is misleading by reason of the inclusion of false statements or the …
- In November 2023, the Scottish Government stated it was "giving careful consideration" to the recommendations about civil damages provisions for misleading evidence, noting that …
Scottish Government
ETI-23
Under Consideration
Edinburgh Tram Inquiry
Criminal Sanctions for Misleading Information
In addition to civil liability from any sanction introduced in accordance with Recommendation 22, Scottish Ministers should consider whether there is need for a statutory criminal offence involving strict liability …
- In November 2023, the Scottish Government stated it was "giving careful consideration" to the recommendations about criminal statutory offences for misleading evidence, noting that …
Scottish Government
JB-15.20
Accepted
Jermaine Baker Inquiry
Process for firearms officer return to duty after fatal shooting
There needs to be proper and objective consideration by the NPCC as to whether, and if so when, it is appropriate for a firearms officer to return to active deployment …
- The Metropolitan Police Service stated on 28 October 2022 that it considered this a national recommendation and did not consider it appropriate to respond …
National Police Chiefs C…
JB-15.25
Under Consideration
Jermaine Baker Inquiry
Simple misconduct allegations to survive officer resignation
Serious consideration should be given to the public interest in amending the current legislation so that allegations of 'simple' misconduct, as distinct from 'gross' misconduct, will survive following a police …
- This recommendation is directed to the Home Office regarding the survival of misconduct allegations after officer resignation or retirement. - The government announced its …
Home Office
JB-15.3
Accepted
Jermaine Baker Inquiry
Document management system for firearms authorisation forms
In order to provide for efficacy and transparency, the NPCC and College of Policing should be tasked with providing a document management system for FA (and equivalent) forms. The system …
- The Metropolitan Police Service stated on 28 October 2022 that it was actively assisting the College of Policing and NPCC in developing a document …
National Police Chiefs C…
JB-15.7
Accepted
Jermaine Baker Inquiry
Recording and documentation of firearms planning meetings and briefings
MPS Armed Policing Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to be amended so that: a. Notes and/or audio recordings should be made of all meetings in relation to general strategy where it …
- The Metropolitan Police Service stated on 28 October 2022 that internal guidance had been issued to all SFCs and TFCs on comprehensive minutes for …
Metropolitan Police Serv…
DM-16
Accepted
Daniel Morgan Panel
Duty to cooperate with independent scrutiny bodies
In the interest of transparency and public accountability, all public institutions should be under a duty to cooperate fully with independent scrutiny bodies created by Government, such as the Panel.
Government reports this recommendation as delivered. Status as of Government Response (June 2023): Completed.
Home Office
RHI-25
Accepted
RHI Inquiry
Ministerial Decision-Making
In light of their legal responsibility to direct and control the Department for which they are responsible, and their democratic accountability to the Northern Ireland Assembly, ministerial decisions should be …
- In October 2021, the NI Executive accepted this recommendation in full (NI Executive Response to RHI Inquiry, Department of Finance, October 2021). - The …
Northern Ireland Executi…
RHI-41
Accepted
RHI Inquiry
Special Adviser Code of Conduct Revision
The Special Adviser Code of Conduct should be revised. How these changes are achieved will need to be a matter for the political representatives concerned in the construction of a …
- In October 2021, the NI Executive accepted this recommendation in full (NI Executive Response to RHI Inquiry, Department of Finance, October 2021). - The …
Northern Ireland Executi…
IHRD-16
Accepted
Hyponatraemia Inquiry
Bedside Display of Responsible Staff
The names of both the consultant responsible and the accountable nurse should be prominently displayed at the bed in order that all can know who is in charge and responsible.
Government reports this recommendation as delivered. Implementation status based on Department of Health NI Implementation Programme updates..
HSC Trusts
IHRD-17
Accepted
Hyponatraemia Inquiry
Recording Changes in Accountability
Any change in clinical accountability should be recorded in the notes.
Government reports this recommendation as delivered. Implementation status based on Department of Health NI Implementation Programme updates..
HSC Trusts
IHRD-2
Accepted in Part
Hyponatraemia Inquiry
Criminal Liability for Candour Breach
Criminal liability should attach to breach of this duty and criminal liability should attach to obstruction of another in the performance of this duty.
Government response: Accepted in Part. Implementation status based on Department of Health NI Implementation Programme updates. No independent verification has been carried out.
Northern Ireland Executi…
IHRD-3
Accepted in Part
Hyponatraemia Inquiry
Guidance on Statutory Duty of Candour
Unequivocal guidance should be issued by the Department to all Trusts and their legal advisors detailing what is expected of Trusts in order to meet the statutory duty.
Government response: Accepted. Last substantive update was January 2024. No recent public evidence of further progress.
Northern Ireland Executi…
Department of Health NI
IHRD-33
Accepted
Hyponatraemia Inquiry
CEO Responsibility for Investigations
Compliance with investigation procedures should be the personal responsibility of the Trust Chief Executive.
Government reports this recommendation as delivered. Implementation status based on Department of Health NI Implementation Programme updates..
HSC Trusts
IHRD-69
Accepted
Hyponatraemia Inquiry
Executive Director Responsibilities
Trusts should appoint and train Executive Directors with specific responsibility for: (i) Issues of Candour. (ii) Child Healthcare. (iii) Learning from SAI related patient deaths.
Government reports this recommendation as delivered. Implementation status based on Department of Health NI Implementation Programme updates..
HSC Trusts
IHRD-93
Accepted
Hyponatraemia Inquiry
Review Trust Responses
The Department should review Trust responses to the findings and recommendations of this Report.
Government response: Accepted. Last substantive update was January 2024. No recent public evidence of further progress.
Department of Health NI
HIA-12
Accepted
HIA Inquiry
Financial Contributions from Institutions
We recommend that any voluntary institution found by the Inquiry to have been guilty of systemic failings should be asked to make an appropriate financial contribution to the overall cost …
- Three of the six voluntary institutions identified by the Inquiry as having systemic failings have made financial contributions to the overall cost of the …
Northern Ireland Executi…
LIT-4
Accepted
Litvinenko Inquiry
Diplomatic Representations to Russia
Senior diplomatic representations should be made to Russia regarding its failure to cooperate with justice.
Government reports this recommendation as delivered. Sanctions and arrest warrants remain in place.
Foreign Office
Foreign, Commonwealth & …
1
Accepted
Morecambe Bay Investigation
Admit problems and apologise to affected families
The University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust should formally admit the extent and nature of the problems that have previously occurred, and should apologise to those patients and …
- In July 2015, the government stated that the Trust had "formally admitted the extent and nature of the problems that occurred and apologised individually …
University Hospitals of …
F1
Accepted
Mid Staffs Inquiry
Implementing the recommendations
It is recommended that: All commissioning, service provision regulatory and ancillary organisations in healthcare should consider the findings and recommendations of this report and decide how to apply them to …
- The government published "Hard Truths: the Journey to Putting Patients First" (Cm 8777) in November 2013, responding to all 290 Francis recommendations. Volume 2 …
Department of Health and…
F127
Accepted
Mid Staffs Inquiry
Resources for scrutiny
The NHS Commissioning Board and local commissioners must be provided with the infrastructure and the support necessary to enable a proper scrutiny of its providers' services, based on sound commissioning …
- The Health and Care Act 2022 established Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) as statutory bodies with their own budgets, staff, and governance arrangements. ICBs are …
NHS England
F130
Accepted
Mid Staffs Inquiry
Relative position of commissioner and provider
Commissioners – not providers – should decide what they want to be provided. They need to take into account what can be provided, and for that purpose will have to …
- The Health and Care Act 2022 establishes ICBs as the statutory commissioners responsible for planning and commissioning NHS services to meet the needs of …
Commissioners
F141
Accepted in Part
Mid Staffs Inquiry
Taking responsibility for quality
Any differences of judgement as to immediate safety concerns between a performance manager and a regulator should be discussed between them and resolved where possible, but each should recognise its …
- The System Oversight Framework (SOF) provides a structured mechanism for resolving differences between NHS England (as performance manager) and CQC (as regulator) regarding provider …
NHS England
F142
Accepted
Mid Staffs Inquiry
Clear lines of responsibility supported by good information flows
For an organisation to be effective in performance management, there must exist unambiguous lines of referral and information flows, so that the performance manager is not in ignorance of the …
- The Health and Care Act 2022 established a statutory framework for information flows within the NHS. ICBs have duties to obtain information about the …
NHS England
F218
Accepted
Mid Staffs Inquiry
Enforcement of standards and accountability
Serious non-compliance with the code, and in particular, non-compliance leading to actual or potential harm to patients, should render board-level leaders and managers liable to be found not to be …
- The government's response in "Hard Truths" (Cm 8777, November 2013) accepted this recommendation and introduced the Fit and Proper Person Test (FPPT) as CQC …
CQC
F236
Accepted
Mid Staffs Inquiry
Identification of who is responsible for the patient
Hospitals should review whether to reinstate the practice of identifying a senior clinician who is in charge of a patient's case, so that patients and their supporters are clear who …
- The government's response in "Hard Truths" (Cm 8777, November 2013) accepted this recommendation (Hard Truths: the Journey to Putting Patients First, DHSC, November 2013). …
Healthcare providers
F247
Accepted
Mid Staffs Inquiry
Accountability for quality accounts
Healthcare providers should be required to lodge their quality accounts with all organisations commissioning services from them, Local Healthwatch, and all systems regulators.
- The government's response in "Hard Truths" (Cm 8777, November 2013) accepted this recommendation (Hard Truths: the Journey to Putting Patients First, DHSC, November 2013). …
Healthcare providers
F248
Accepted
Mid Staffs Inquiry
Accountability for quality accounts
Healthcare providers should be required to have their quality accounts independently audited. Auditors should be given a wider remit enabling them to use their professional judgement in examining the reliability …
- The government's response in "Hard Truths" (Cm 8777, November 2013) accepted this recommendation in principle (Hard Truths: the Journey to Putting Patients First, DHSC, …
Healthcare providers
F249
Accepted in Part
Mid Staffs Inquiry
Accountability for quality accounts
Each quality account should be accompanied by a declaration signed by all directors in office at the date of the account certifying that they believe the contents of the account …
- The government's response in "Hard Truths" (Cm 8777, November 2013) accepted this recommendation in part (Hard Truths: the Journey to Putting Patients First, DHSC, …
Healthcare providers
F279
Accepted
Mid Staffs Inquiry
Death certification
So far as is practicable, the responsibility for certifying the cause of death should be undertaken and fulfilled by the consultant, or another senior and fully qualified clinician in charge …
- The government's response in "Hard Truths" (Cm 8777, November 2013) accepted this recommendation (Hard Truths: the Journey to Putting Patients First, DHSC, November 2013). …
Healthcare providers
F73
Accepted
Mid Staffs Inquiry
Need for constructive working with other parts of the system
The Department of Health's regular performance reviews of Monitor (and the Care Quality Commission) should include an examination of its relationship with the Department of Health and whether the appropriate …
- The government stated in Hard Truths (November 2013) that it would strengthen the accountability and performance management of arm's-length bodies including Monitor and CQC …
Department of Health and…
L21
Accepted in Part
Leveson Inquiry
Annual Report Requirements
The Board should publish an Annual Report identifying: (a) the body's subscribers, identifying any significant changes in subscriber numbers; (b) the number of complaints it has handled and the outcomes …
- The Prime Minister stated on 29 November 2012 that he accepted the principles for independent self-regulation including annual reporting (Oral Statement to Parliament, Prime …
Press
L30
Accepted in Part
Leveson Inquiry
Periodic Review of Regulator
The operation of any certified body should be reviewed by the recognition body after two years and thereafter at three yearly intervals.
- The Royal Charter on Self-Regulation of the Press (October 2013) requires the Press Recognition Panel to conduct cyclical reviews of recognised regulators (Royal Charter, …
UK Government
L41
Accepted in Part
Leveson Inquiry
Strict Accountability for Published Material
A new regulatory body should make it clear that newspapers will be held strictly accountable, under their standards code, for any material that they publish, including photographs (however sourced).
- The Prime Minister stated on 29 November 2012 that he accepted the principles for independent self-regulation (Oral Statement to Parliament, Prime Minister's Office, 29 …
Press