Mark Whitehead 13 December 2017

Government failing to act on public inquiries despite £639m bill finds report

The Government has spent huge amounts of money on public inquiries in recent years but usually fail to follow them up, according to new research.

The Institute for Government says 68 public inquiries have taken place since 1990 at a cost of £639m, but only six have been fully reviewed by MPs to see what happened as a result.

The institute's report 'How public inquiries can lead to change' says Parliament must hold government to account by requiring it to provide yearly progress updates to select committees.

It says there are eight inquiries currently taking place covering issues ranging from the Grenfell Tower disaster to Child Sexual Abuse to Contaminated Blood.

The institute says public inquiries have delivered valuable changes from effective gun control after the Dunblane massacre to the creation of the Rail Accident Investigation Branch after the Ladbroke Grove and Southall rail crashes.

But it says there are no formal checks or procedures to make sure they lead to meaningful change.

The report's author Emma Norris said: 'The implementation of findings is patchy and there is no proper procedure for holding government to account for change.

'Government needs to systematically provide a full and detailed response to inquiry findings and select committees need to make the follow-up to inquiry recommendations a core part of their work.'

Skills Pipelines: What local government needs to know image

Skills Pipelines: What local government needs to know

Councils and mayors are to be handed a central role in developing skills pipelines for local industries, as the Government unveils what it calls a ‘fundamental change’ to the education system aimed at tackling youth unemployment. Here's what council leaders and officers need to know.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Occupational Therapist

Durham County Council
Grade 11 - £40,777 - £45,091 p.a (Post-progression) - Pay award pending.
The successful candidate will become part of a highly motivated and successful Occupational Therapy Service within County Durham. This post is perman Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Volunteer Development Officer

Durham County Council
Grade 7 £30,024 - £33,699 (pro rata)
We are seeking to appoint a Volunteer Development Officer to join our busy North Pennines National Landscape team for 22 hours per week, initially on Stanhope
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Technical and Support Officers

Durham County Council
£30,024 to £33,699 p.a. (Grade 7) Pay Award pending
Do you have a passion for improving services, solving problems and making the most of technology?  If so, we want to hear from you! We're seeking two Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Technician

Durham County Council
Grade 6 £28,142 - £31,022 (Pay award pending)
WHAT IS INVOLVED?    Are you passionate about live events, theatre, and bringing unforgettable experiences to life? We're looking for a Technician to Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Welfare Rights Officers

Durham County Council
£35,412 to £39,152 p.a. (Grade 9) Pay Award pending
An exciting opportunity has arisen within Durham County Council for two Welfare Rights Officers, on a two-year fixed term basis. WHAT IS INVOLVED? Th Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner