Weak Government Accountability & Scrutiny
Lack of clear departmental responsibility for budgeting tax reliefs and insufficient parliamentary scrutiny of government non-executives.
343 items
1 source
41 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
We recommend 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...
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
62match
RHI-21 - Sceptical Business Case Scrutiny
The Department of Finance's distinctive role in scrutinising business cases should be searching and sceptical, guarding against over-reliance on the assurances offered by the applicant Department.
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
41match
18 - Section 86: tips as structures
Section 86 of the Act should be amended so as to remove any doubt whether tips are "structures" within the meaning of the Section (Paragraph 295).
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
84 - Passenger representation at inquiries
Passenger representation at such inquiries should not be limited to those involved in the immediate accident. Consideration should be given to enlarging the role of CRUCC and the provision of appropriate funding for their full participation in Inquiries (para 15.27).
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
83 - Later inquiries under the Health and Safety at Work Act
Any subsequent Inquiry directed under the Health and Safety at Work Act, 1974 should involve all parties in the rail industry who may have an interest in Recommendations to be made, through the involvement of representative groups including ATOC (para 15.27).
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
81 - An additional independent accident investigation body
Consideration should be given to whether an additional independent accident investigation body should be created, to take over the accident investigation functions of HMRI under Recommendation 73 (para 15.23).
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
80 - No delay to opening or reporting of an inquiry
Nothing should be permitted to delay the opening of a RII nor the completion of their Report and Recommendations (para 15.28).
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
79 - Make Rail Industry Inquiries accessible to the public
Consideration should be given to whether procedures can be adapted to make any RII accessible to the public, save where the needs of confidentiality otherwise require (para 15.28).
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
78 - Review procedure for Rail Industry Inquiries
Procedure for conducting a RII should be reviewed. This should include ensuring that the RII panel is independent of all parties having an interest in the accident (paras 9.33, 15.25, 16.26).
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
77 - Rail Industry Inquiry as the forum for recommendations
The primary forum for deciding upon appropriate recommendations following an accident should be the Rail Industry Inquiry (RII). Procedures for holding such an inquiry at the earliest possible date should be strengthened, and should include the presentation by HMRI of their investigation (para 15.26).
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
62 - Review progress on the DTp Review Committee Report
There should be a review of progress on implementing the Recommendations of the DTp Review Committee Report (chaired by Sir David Davies) published in September 1996 (para 14.31).
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
58 - Rights and obligations in equipment added to vehicles
Rights (including ownership) and obligations in all equipment added to vehicles, together with lineside equipment upon which its operation depends, must be defined in legally enforceable terms (paras 15.7, 15.13, 16.21).
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
4 - Audit inspection procedures
Since audit inspections at Whittingham before 1969 apparently failed either to detect the collapse in the system of ward records of patients’ money or to investigate the decline in volume of shop takings compared with the amount of patients’ allowances, audit inspection procedures generally should ensure that matters of this kind are properly examined in future.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
65 - Consider financial remedy
The Human Rights Act 1998 makes provision for an effective remedy other than in criminal proceedings. If breaches of the Human Tissue Act 1961 amount to breaches of the Human Rights Act 1998 consideration shall be given to incorporating a financial remedy with the Human Tissue Act 1961 itself. If necessary, reference should be made to the Law...
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
63 - Criminal penalty for breach
The Human Tissue Act 1961 shall be amended to impose a criminal penalty by way of fine for breach of its provisions in order to encourage future compliance.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
160 - Reporter as protagonist before Sheriff
In proceedings before the Sheriff the protagonist should be the Reporter and not the agency which removed the child in the first place (18.47).
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
158 - No amendment on notice to Reporter
No amendment of the 1968 Act is required to clarify the stage at which agencies should make known their anxieties to the Reporter or of the nature and scope of the material to be passed to him (18.44).
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
157 - Reporters not to investigate
It is not recommended that Reporters should undertake an investigative function before matters are brought formally to their attention (18.43).
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
156 - Reporter's independence in discussions
In any informal discussion between the Social Work Department and the Reporter his independence of action must be recognised and respected (18.39-41).
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
154 - Clarify application of section 58
Consideration should also be given to clarifying the application of Section 58 of the 1968 Act (18.37).
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
147 - Sheriff discretion to release documents
Consideration should be given to empowering a Sheriff at his discretion to release documents to which access is statutorily restricted (18.28).
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
8 - Re-examine Radioactive Substances Act inquiry powers
The provisions of the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 relating to the powers to hold inquiries into proposed authorisations to discharge should be re-examined (para 10.122).
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
24 - New statutory framework for public inquiries
A new statutory framework for public inquiries (of an inquisitorial and not adversarial nature) should be introduced as suggested in paragraphs 11.59 and 11.60 of the final TSI report.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
23 - Machinery for deciding prosecution or public inquiry
Appropriate machinery should be established (as recommended in paragraph 11.58 of the final TSI report) for arriving at a decision in serious cases whether to prosecute or to hold a public inquiry (or as the case may be) and that that machinery, or at least appropriate guidelines should be published.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
15 - Assessment of the performance of CQC
There must be a rigorous and consistent review and assessment of the performance of CQC by the Health and Social Care Committee, initially once a year and, once the committee is satisfied, once every three years, or such other frequency to be determined by the select committee.
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
I recommend 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 co-operate.
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
41match
MAI-57 - Amend section 21 for witness interview requirements
I recommend 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
I recommend 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
I also recommend 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
11 - NCB keeps prime responsibility for its tips
The National Coal Board should continue to have prime responsibility in respect of all tips in its ownership (Paragraph 290).
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
36match
17 - Extend the Mines and Quarries Act to public safety
The ambit of the Mines and Quarries Act, 1954, should be extended to include provision for the safety of the general public in addition to the existing provisions for the safety of persons employed in the industry (Paragraph 295).
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
36match
162 - Consult before abandoning a case
Where a Reporter requires to consider the abandonment of a case which has been passed to the Sheriff for proof he should consult the Social Work Department before finally deciding to do so (18.50).
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
36match
159 - Reporter to check continued detention
The Reporter on being informed of the execution of a Child Protection Order should check the propriety of the continued detention of a child (18.45) but should also proceed with his statutory functions under Sections 38 and 39 in light of that information (18.46).
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
36match
152 - Procedure and evidence in children's cases
Consideration should be given to certain matters of procedure and evidence in relation to cases involving children (18.34).
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
36match
144 - Order falls if grounds not served
If grounds for referral have not been served within seven days of the removal of a child under a Child Protection Order, the Order should fall (18.23).
Matched on
classifier match
Inquiry recommendation
36match
142 - Transfer processing of Orders to Sheriff
The processing of Child Protection Orders should be transferred from the Children’s Hearing to the Sheriff with certain consequential changes in the procedure of referral (18.21).
Matched on
classifier match