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.'

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Community Safety Service Manager

Bristol City Council
£72,878 - £80,741
We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced community safety expert to join our senior leadership team. Bristol
Recuriter: Bristol City Council

Pre-School/Nursery Assistant

Essex County Council
Up to £25959.0000 per annum
Pre-School/Nursery AssistantFixed Term, Part Time£25,959 per annum (full time equivalent)Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Vocational Trainer - Health and Social Care - North Essex

Essex County Council
£29468 - £34668 per annum
Vocational Trainer - Health and Social Care - North EssexPermanent, Part Time£29,468 to £34,668 per annum (full time equivalent) Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Social Care Officer

Durham County Council
Grade 6
Durham County Council
Recuriter: Durham County Council

Safeguarding Team Manager

Durham County Council
Grade 14 - £50,269 - £54,495
We are seeking a highly motivated and enthusiastic Safeguarding Team Manager to lead an operational team within Adult Services. This pivotal role over Spennymoor
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner