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

Educational Psychologist (EP)

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
£53,238 - £64,512 per annum
Educational Psychologist (EP)£53,2... Wandsworth, London
Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth

HMO ASB OFFICER

Royal Borough of Greenwich
PO1 - £41,113 to £43,680
We are looking for three HMO Anti-Social Behaviour Officers to join our Private Housing London (Greater)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

South-East London Fostering Hub Programme Manager

Royal Borough of Greenwich
PO6 (£54,267 - £57,402)
The role will provide strong programme management oversight, ensuring projects are well planned, effectively delivered a London (Greater)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Professional Educator (Part Time, 28 hours)

Royal Borough of Greenwich
PO6 - £54,267 to £57,402
We are looking for an experienced and enthusiastic Professional Educator to join our Quality Assurance and Workforce development Service. London (Greater)
Recuriter: Royal Borough of Greenwich

Principal Lawyer Litigation and Housing

Kirklees Metropolitan Council
£53,051 to £58,258
You will join a team of experienced Lawyers, Legal Officers, and Paralegals supported by a dedicated Business Support Team. Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Kirklees Metropolitan Council
Linkedin Banner