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

Family Worker (Link Role) - 12 month FTC

Essex County Council
£33049.00 - £37698.00 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Family Worker (Link Role)Fixed Term, Full Time£33,049 to £37,698 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Attendance Specialist

Essex County Council
£29512.00 - £34720.00 per annum
Attendance SpecialistPermanent, Full Time£29,512 to £34,720 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Fostering Panel Manager (CDC)

City Of Doncaster Council
Grade 10 - £48,227 - £52,414 (Pay award pending)
As Fostering Panel Manager, you will be responsible for the effective operation and development of the Fostering Panel Doncaster, South Yorkshire
Recuriter: City Of Doncaster Council

Senior Officer – Learner Services

Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
Band E SCP 18-25 (£31,537 - £36,363 per annum)
We are an Adult Education service delivering courses across a range of subjects Sandwell, West Midlands
Recuriter: Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council

Senior Practitioner - Children in Care, Mid Essex

Essex County Council
£48205.0000 - £57988.0000 per annum
Senior Practitioner - Children in Care, Mid EssexPermanent, Full Time£48,205 to £57,988 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council
Linkedin Banner