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
Source spread
Where this theme appears
Weak Government Accountability & Scrutiny has been flagged across 1 independent accountability source:
290 inquiry recs
This theme has been identified in one data source. As more data is added, cross-references may emerge.
Browse by source
Source-grouped records are useful for tracing where a concern came from. Large sections show the 50 strongest matches for that source; counts still show the full theme total.
Inquiry Recommendations (290) — showing 50 strongest matches
COVID-M5.10 — Transparency, Governance and Accountability in Emergencies
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: No formal response published by this government.
Unknown
FR-3 — Cabinet-Level Minister for Children
Recommendation: 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.
Gov response: We accept the importance of placing the best interests of the child front and centre in policy and decision making at the highest level of Government. This role is already fulfilled through the work of …
Accepted
FENN-130 — Railway Inspectorate to vigorously discharge duties concerning London Underground safety.
Recommendation: The Railway Inspectorate must be more vigorous in the discharge of its duties on London Underground.
Unknown
P2-25 — Maintain public record of inquiry recommendations
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The government accepts this recommendation in principle. We will establish a record on GOV.UK of all recommendations made by public inquiries since 2024, and will consider making this an enduring legal requirement. The government agrees …
Accepted in Part
RHI-42 — Ministerial Code Revision
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: [Note: The NI Executive responded to recommendations 5-7, 25, 37, 39-43 together as a group under the 'Ministers and Special Advisers' theme.] NI Executive Response (October 2021): These recommendations can be accepted in full, with …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
COVID-M2.6 — Enact Socio-economic Duty
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: No formal response published by this government.
Accepted
COVID-M2.5 — Advisory Group Terms of Appointment
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: No formal response published by this government.
Accepted
COVID-M2.4 — Publish Technical Advice During Emergencies
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: No formal response published by this government.
Accepted
COVID-M2.2 — Devolved Nations SAGE Attendance
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: No formal response published by this government.
Accepted
COVID-M2.1 — NI CMO Independence
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: No formal response published by this government.
Unknown
POH-17 — Establish standing public body to administer future redress schemes
Recommendation: 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.
Gov response: Department for Business and Trade acknowledges this recommendation and sees clear advantages in establishing a standing public body for financial redress. However, the government recognises that establishing such an independent redress body requires careful consideration …
Response Unclear
In progress
MAI-142 — Compel LRF attendance from Category 1 and 2 responders
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to …
Accepted
In progress
MAI-63 — Monitor LRF attendance and flag concerns
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to …
Accepted
In progress
MAI-61 — Independent inspection regime for LRFs
Recommendation: 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.
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to …
Accepted
In progress
MAI-58 — Amend section 36 for pre-emptive witness enforcement
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to …
Accepted in Part
In progress
MAI-57 — Amend section 21 for witness interview requirements
Recommendation: 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.
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to …
Accepted in Part
In progress
MAI-56 — Address extradition difficulties for section 35 offences
Recommendation: 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.
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to …
Accepted in Part
In progress
MAI-52 — Consider Commission for Countering Extremism report
Recommendation: 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.
Gov response: Home Secretary Suella Braverman made a statement to Parliament on 6 March 2023 following publication of Volume 3 on 2 March 2023. She stated: 'We will carefully consider the report's findings and recommendations in full' …
Accepted
MAI-48 — Statutory powers for witness attendance at inquiries
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The Home Secretary made a written statement to Parliament on 3 November 2022 following publication of Volume 2, acknowledging the findings on emergency response failures and stating the government would work with emergency services to …
Accepted in Part
In progress
R3 — Non-acceptance notification within three months
Recommendation: 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 …
Response Pending
R2 — Public acceptance of recommendations within six months
Recommendation: 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 …
Response Pending
IBI-12e — PACAC Role for Future Inquiries
Recommendation: 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.
Gov response: The Government accepts the principles behind recommendations 12d) and 12e), and notes that they are for Parliament to consider. Alongside the UK Government's response to the House of Lords Statutory Inquiries Committee report, the UK …
Accepted in Part
No update 2+ yrs
IBI-12d — PACAC Oversight of Implementation
Recommendation: 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.
Gov response: The Government accepts the principles behind recommendations 12d) and 12e), and notes that they are for Parliament to consider. Alongside the UK Government's response to the House of Lords Statutory Inquiries Committee report, the UK …
Accepted in Part
No update 2+ yrs
IBI-12b — Parliamentary Progress Report
Recommendation: 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.
Gov response: The Government understands that the delay on the part of successive governments to take heed of the need for a public inquiry to be held into this matter has led to a fundamental loss of …
Accepted
IBI-12a — Implementation Commitment Within 12 Months
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The Government understands that the delay on the part of successive governments to take heed of the need for a public inquiry to be held into this matter has led to a fundamental loss of …
Accepted
IBI-11d — Ministerial Reasons for Disagreement
Recommendation: 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.
Gov response: UK Government It is clear that blood products and blood were contaminated, and despite a wealth of evidence, no action was taken to spell out the risks, and insufficient precautions were taken. It is also …
Accepted in Part
No update 2+ yrs
IBI-11b — Parliamentary Referral to PACAC
Recommendation: 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.
Gov response: UK Government It is clear that blood products and blood were contaminated, and despite a wealth of evidence, no action was taken to spell out the risks, and insufficient precautions were taken. It is also …
Accepted in Part
No update 2+ yrs
FENN-140 — Railway Inspectorate to review fire precaution enforcement role
Recommendation: The Railway Inspectorate shall review its role in enforcing fire precautions under health and safety legislation in the light of this Investigation.
Unknown
FENN-131 — Railway Inspectorate to review LU safety management and enlist external advice.
Recommendation: The Railway Inspectorate shall keep the management of safety by London Underground under review. It must enlist outside advice.
Unknown
FENN-129 — Bring Railway Inspectorate to full establishment to fulfil safety responsibilities.
Recommendation: 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.
Unknown
FENN-79 — Establish system for auditing London Underground operational safety with Board reports
Recommendation: 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.
Unknown
FENN-56 — Chief Safety Inspector to review, identify hazards, recommend policies, and audit safety
Recommendation: 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 …
Unknown
CR18 — MAIB publication of implementation measures
Recommendation: 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 …
Response Pending
CR12 — Independent external oversight body
Recommendation: 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 …
Response Pending
CR11 — Coastguard role in legislation
Recommendation: The role and functions of HM Coastguard should be set out in up-to-date legislation.
Response Pending
P2-16 — Trust boards assure recommendation implementation
Recommendation: Trust boards should assure themselves that the recommendations in this Report have been implemented.
Gov response: The Government has agreed to accept in principle this recommendation subject to further work to determine its full impact.
Accepted in Part
In progress
P1-13 — Board review governance - assurance not reassurance
Recommendation: 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.
Gov response: Implemented. The Trust Board has reviewed its governance structures to ensure proper assurance mechanisms are in place rather than relying on reassurance. (Source: Trust assurance statement, February 2024; confirmed in Written Ministerial Statement HCWS132, 15 …
Accepted
ETI-24 — Duty of Disclosure Legislation
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The Scottish Government stated it is 'giving careful consideration' to recommendations about provisions for misleading evidence. Source: Transport Secretary Statement, 2 November 2023.
Response Unclear
ETI-23 — Criminal Sanctions for Misleading Information
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The Scottish Government stated it is 'giving careful consideration' to recommendations about civil damages provisions and criminal statutory offences for misleading evidence. The Government noted that existing remedies may already exist under delictual liability and …
Response Unclear
ETI-22 — Civil Sanctions for Misleading Reports
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The Scottish Government stated it is 'giving careful consideration' to recommendations about civil damages provisions and criminal statutory offences for misleading evidence. The Government noted that existing remedies may already exist under delictual liability and …
Response Unclear
ETI-21 — Duty of Officials to Councillors
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: Council Leader Cammy Day stated: 'We know that serious mistakes were made in the construction of the original tram line.' The Council broadly agrees with Lord Hardie's recommendations but notes improvements were already implemented for …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
ETI-20 — Prohibition on Misleading Reports from ALEOs
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: Council Leader Cammy Day stated: 'We know that serious mistakes were made in the construction of the original tram line.' The Council broadly agrees with Lord Hardie's recommendations but notes improvements were already implemented for …
Accepted
No update 2+ yrs
ETI-2 — Inquiry Independence
Recommendation: 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.
Gov response: The Scottish Government stated that guidance similar to that suggested is already in development. Source: Transport Secretary Statement, 2 November 2023.
Accepted in Part
No update 2+ yrs
F73 — Need for constructive working with other parts of the system
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The government published "Hard Truths: the Journey to Putting Patients First" (Cm 8777) on 19 November 2013, responding to all 290 recommendations of the Francis Report. This followed an initial response "Patients First and Foremost" …
Accepted
F71 — Role of Secretary of State
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The government published "Hard Truths: the Journey to Putting Patients First" (Cm 8777) on 19 November 2013, responding to all 290 recommendations of the Francis Report. This followed an initial response "Patients First and Foremost" …
Accepted
L1 — Independent Board Governance
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: The Prime Minister stated on 29 November 2012 that he accepted "the principles that Lord Justice Leveson has laid out" for independent self-regulation, including "an independent board, a standards code, an arbitration service and the …
Accepted in Part
RHI-43 — Independent Compliance Assessment
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: [Note: The NI Executive responded to recommendations 5-7, 25, 37, 39-43 together as a group under the 'Ministers and Special Advisers' theme.] NI Executive Response (October 2021): These recommendations can be accepted in full, with …
Not Accepted
RHI-41 — Special Adviser Code of Conduct Revision
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: [Note: The NI Executive responded to recommendations 5-7, 25, 37, 39-43 together as a group under the 'Ministers and Special Advisers' theme.] NI Executive Response (October 2021): These recommendations can be accepted in full, with …
Accepted
RHI-38 — Assembly Committee Scrutiny
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: Responsibility of the NI Assembly. Chairpersons' Liaison Group published 'Report on Strengthening Committee Scrutiny' in March 2022. Work continuing post-February 2024 assembly resumption.
Accepted in Part
No update 2+ yrs
RHI-4 — Quality of Ministerial Advice
Recommendation: 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 …
Gov response: [Note: The NI Executive responded to recommendations 1-4 together as a group under the 'Policy Development' theme.] NI Executive Response (October 2021): These recommendations can be accepted in full. Some elements are addressed in existing …
Accepted