Weak Government Accountability & Scrutiny
Lack of clear departmental responsibility for budgeting tax reliefs and insufficient parliamentary scrutiny of government non-executives.
290 items
1 source
33 inquiries
Strongest theme matches
Mixed across source types and ranked by classifier confidence plus text match strength.
Inquiry recommendation
78match
COVID-M5.10 - Transparency, Governance and Accountability in Emergencies
The UK government, Scottish Government, Welsh Government and Northern Ireland Executive should improve transparency, governance and accountability for procurement in an emergency. As a minimum, these improvements should include the following: Enhancing transparency Any central digital platform used for procurement must allow for the automated collation of contract information and must reduce the administrative burden involved in publishing...
Matched on
terms: accountability, government
Inquiry recommendation
65match
P2-25 - 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 of the steps taken in response. If the government decides not to accept a recommendation, it should record its reasons for doing so. Scrutiny of its actions should...
Matched on
terms: government, scrutiny
Inquiry recommendation
65match
RHI-42 - Ministerial Code Revision
The Code of Conduct issued to Northern Ireland Ministers in 2007 (contained within the Northern Ireland Ministerial Code 2006) should be revised and brought up to date reflecting the findings of the RHI Inquiry and drawing on relevant best practice standards from ministerial codes of conduct used elsewhere in the UK and indeed from Northern Ireland's earlier Ministerial...
Matched on
terms: government
Inquiry recommendation
57match
RHI-38 - Assembly Committee Scrutiny
The Inquiry recommends that the Northern Ireland Assembly should strengthen the scrutiny role of Assembly Committees, reviewing whether the existing balance between legislative and scrutiny work is appropriate, and considering whether Committees should have greater research capacity and whether there is more that Committee Chairpersons could do to ensure Committee members are properly briefed.
Matched on
terms: scrutiny
Inquiry recommendation
57match
FR-3 - Cabinet-Level Minister for Children
The Inquiry recommends that the UK government creates a cabinet-level ministerial position for children. The Inquiry recommends that the Welsh Government ensures that there is cabinet-level ministerial responsibility for children.
Matched on
terms: government
Inquiry recommendation
57match
COVID-M2.6 - Enact Socio-economic Duty
The UK government should bring into force in England section 1 of the Equality Act 2010, implementing the socio-economic duty. The Northern Ireland Assembly and Northern Ireland Executive should consider an equivalent provision within section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998.
Matched on
terms: government
Inquiry recommendation
57match
COVID-M2.5 - Advisory Group Terms of Appointment
The Government Office for Science (GO-Science), the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Department of Health (Northern Ireland) should each develop standard terms of appointment for all participants in scientific advisory groups. These terms should include: clarity around the nature of an individual's role and the extent of their responsibility, as well as the likely time commitment;...
Matched on
terms: government
Inquiry recommendation
53match
COVID-M2.4 - Publish Technical Advice During Emergencies
During a whole-system civil emergency, the UK government and devolved administrations should each routinely publish technical advice on scientific, economic and social matters at the earliest opportunity, as well as the minutes of expert advisory groups – except where there are good reasons that prevent publication, such as commercial confidentiality, personal safety or national security, or because legal...
Matched on
terms: government
Inquiry recommendation
53match
COVID-M2.2 - Devolved Nations SAGE Attendance
The Government Office for Science (GO-Science) should invite the governments of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to nominate a small number of representatives to attend meetings of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) from the outset of any future emergency. The status of those representatives as either 'participant' or 'observer' should depend upon their expertise and should...
Matched on
terms: government
Inquiry recommendation
53match
POH-17 - Establish standing public body to administer future redress schemes
As soon as is reasonably practicable, HM Government shall establish a standing public body which shall, when called upon to do so, devise, administer and deliver schemes for providing financial redress to persons who have been wronged by public bodies.
Matched on
terms: government
Inquiry recommendation
52match
IBI-12b - 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.
Matched on
terms: government
Inquiry recommendation
52match
RHI-41 - 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 system in which the public can have confidence. The Inquiry's findings suggest the following ought to be considered for inclusion in a revised code: the accountability of a...
Matched on
terms: accountability
Inquiry recommendation
48match
IBI-12e - PACAC Role for Future Inquiries
PACAC should accept the role in respect of any future statutory inquiry of reviewing the government’s timetable for consideration of recommendations, and of its progress towards implementation of that inquiry’s recommendations.
Matched on
terms: government
Inquiry recommendation
48match
IBI-12a - 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, why it is not considered appropriate to implement any one or more of them. During that period, and before the end of this year – the Government should...
Matched on
terms: government
Inquiry recommendation
48match
ETI-2 - Inquiry Independence
Scottish Ministers must not appoint any department, agency, or government organization as inquiry sponsor where it or its employees had involvement in the project under investigation.
Matched on
terms: government
Inquiry recommendation
48match
L1 - Independent Board Governance
An independent self regulatory body should be governed by an independent Board. In order to ensure the independence of the body, the Chair and members of the Board must be appointed in a genuinely open, transparent and independent way, without any influence from industry or Government.
Matched on
terms: government
Inquiry recommendation
44match
RHI-43 - Independent Compliance Assessment
In addition, the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly ought, in the Inquiry's view, to give due consideration to an independent mechanism to assess compliance with codes of conduct in public life as they apply to Ministers and Special Advisers. Whatever route is chosen, there must in future also be a focus on keeping standards of conduct clear, consistent,...
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
FENN-130 - Railway Inspectorate to vigorously discharge duties concerning London Underground safety.
The Railway Inspectorate must be more vigorous in the discharge of its duties on London Underground.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
COVID-M2.1 - NI CMO Independence
The Department of Health (Northern Ireland) should reconstitute the role of the Chief Medical Officer for Northern Ireland as an independent advisory role. The Chief Medical Officer for Northern Ireland should not have managerial responsibilities within the Department of Health (Northern Ireland).
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
MAI-142 - Compel LRF attendance from Category 1 and 2 responders
The Home Office should consider empowering the leadership of local resilience forums to compel the attendance of a senior representative of its Category 1 and Category 2 responders at all local resilience forum meetings. Inspections by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services should include an analysis of a service's engagement with its local resilience...
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
MAI-63 - Monitor LRF attendance and flag concerns
Local resilience forums should monitor attendance and participation at their meetings, and flag promptly any concerns about attendance by members to the leadership of the organisation concerned. The Home Office should ensure that this is being done by local resilience forums.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
MAI-61 - Independent inspection regime for LRFs
Local resilience forums have a vital role in the preparation for the response to any Major Incident. The Cabinet Office and the Home Office should consider implementing an independent inspection regime for local resilience forums.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
MAI-58 - Amend section 36 for pre-emptive witness enforcement
It is recommended that the Ministry of Justice, possibly in conjunction with the Law Commission, give consideration to amending section 36 of the 2005 Act to make provision for issuing pre-emptive enforcement proceedings for witnesses in relation to whom there are reasonable grounds to believe that they will not cooperate.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
MAI-57 - Amend section 21 for witness interview requirements
It is recommended 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.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
MAI-56 - Address extradition difficulties for section 35 offences
It is recommended that the Home Office give consideration to addressing the difficulties in extradition in relation to an offence under section 35, given that the maximum sentence for such an offence is below the minimum qualifying threshold for extradition.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
MAI-52 - Consider Commission for Countering Extremism report
In 2021, the Commission for Countering Extremism published a report entitled Operating with Impunity. Hateful Extremism: The Need for a Legal Framework. I recommend that the Home Office consider and respond to this document as a matter of urgency.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
MAI-48 - Statutory powers for witness attendance at inquiries
It is recommended that consideration be given to the creation of statutory powers under section 36 that can be used to prevent a material witness to an inquiry putting themselves beyond the reach of the existing powers to compel a witness's attendance. One such power, which would have assisted in the cases of Ismail Abedi and Ahmed Taghdi,...
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
40match
R3 - Non-acceptance notification within three months
With the exception of Recommendations 88 and 89 (R88 & R89) any other organisation that does not accept a recommendation for which it is named as responsible, should write within three months of this report to the DoH Permanent Secretary to explain why it does not accept the recommendation. In respect of any recommendation not implemented or where...
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
40match
R2 - Public acceptance of recommendations within six months
The DoH should indicate publicly within six months of this report which recommendations it accepts and those it does not accept (and why). This should include the recommendations for all organisations for which the DoH holds primary responsibility. In relation to those recommendations that are accepted, any not implemented, or where there is a failure substantially to progress...
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
40match
IBI-11b - Parliamentary Referral to PACAC
If there is sufficient support from within Parliament for there to be an inquiry, the question whether there should be one should be referred to the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (PACAC) for it to consider the question.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
40match
FENN-56 - Chief Safety Inspector to review, identify hazards, recommend policies, and audit safety
The Chief Safety Inspector shall review existing safety arrangements, identify hazards, recommend policies, objectives and systems to meet those hazards, and thereafter audit the effectiveness of the system. He should have direct access to the Chief Executive of London Underground and the power to call for any reports, logs and correspondence relating to safety.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
40match
CR12 - 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 Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services as the responsible body to undertake the task.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
40match
RHI-4 - Quality of Ministerial Advice
A lesson from the RHI experience is that action is needed to raise and sustain the quality of advice to Ministers and the clarity with which it is expressed. Options must be properly evaluated and, at the point of formal decisions, advice must be clear, comprehensive and impartial. Risks should be clearly and realistically stated, with an account...
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
36match
IBI-12d - PACAC Oversight of Implementation
The Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee (“PACAC”) should review both the progress towards responding to the Inquiry’s recommendations and, to the extent that they are accepted, implementing those recommendations.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
36match
IBI-11d - 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 carefully and properly considered.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
36match
FENN-140 - Railway Inspectorate to review fire precaution enforcement role
The Railway Inspectorate shall review its role in enforcing fire precautions under health and safety legislation in the light of this Investigation.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
36match
FENN-131 - Railway Inspectorate to review LU safety management and enlist external advice.
The Railway Inspectorate shall keep the management of safety by London Underground under review. It must enlist outside advice.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
36match
FENN-129 - Bring Railway Inspectorate to full establishment to fulfil safety responsibilities.
The Railway Inspectorate must be brought up to establishment to carry out its responsibilities under section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
36match
FENN-79 - Establish system for auditing London Underground operational safety with Board reports
London Regional Transport shall establish a system whereby the safety of operation of London Underground can be the subject of audit. The Board of London Regional Transport shall receive reports on such audit.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
36match
CR18 - MAIB publication of implementation measures
The Marine Accident Investigation Branch should make publicly available on its website, as soon as possible after they are received, the details of implementation measures taken by those to whom a recommendation is addressed, or an explanation for not taking implementing measures, unless there are strong reasons not to do so. If needs be, the 2012 Regulations should...
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
36match
CR11 - Coastguard role in legislation
The role and functions of HM Coastguard should be set out in up-to-date legislation.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
36match
P2-16 - Trust boards assure recommendation implementation
Trust boards should assure themselves that the recommendations in this Report have been implemented.
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classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
36match
P1-13 - Board review governance - assurance not reassurance
We have illustrated throughout this Report how Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust relied on reassurance rather than assurance in monitoring its processes. The Board must review its governance structures and function in light of this.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
36match
ETI-24 - Duty of Disclosure Legislation
Scottish Ministers should consider the need for legislation to impose a similar duty of disclosure to that owed by policyholders to their insurers upon a company, its directors, employees or consultants and upon a local authority and its officials towards representatives of OGC or Audit Scotland undertaking any review of a publicly funded project.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
36match
ETI-23 - 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 once it is established that information or reports were misleading by reason of false statements or omission of relevant facts.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
36match
ETI-22 - 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 omission of relevant facts, or where such officials knowingly submit such reports to councillors, Scottish Ministers should consider whether there is a requirement for new legislation to allow...
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
36match
ETI-21 - Duty of Officials to Councillors
Local authority officials should be mindful at all times of the distinction in roles between them and councillors, who are solely responsible for strategic decisions, and of their duty to provide accurate reports to councillors to enable them to take informed decisions based upon the reality of the situation. Such reports should not be misleading either by the...
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
36match
ETI-20 - Prohibition on Misleading Reports from ALEOs
The directors, employees and consultants of the company responsible for the procurement and delivery of the project as project managers, including an arm's-length external organisation (ALEO) wholly owned by the local authority that is the promoter and owner of the project, should not submit to the local authority information that is deceptive or reports that are misleading either...
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
36match
F73 - 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 degree of clarity of understanding of the scope of their respective responsibilities has been maintained.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
36match
F71 - Role of Secretary of State
The Secretary of State's support for an application should not be given unless he is satisfied that the proposed applicant provides a service to patients which is, at the time of his consideration, safe, effective and compliant with all relevant standards, and that in his opinion it is reasonable to conclude that the proposed applicant will continue to...
Matched on
classifier match