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House of Commons

Session 2004 - 05 Internet Publications Other Bills before Parliament

Inquiries Bill [HL]

Inquiries Bill [HL]
EXPLANATORY NOTES
Explanatory notes to the Bill, prepared by the Department for Constitutional Affairs,
are published separately as Bill 70—EN.
EUROPEAN CONVENTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Mr Christopher Leslie has made the following statement under section 19(1)(a) of the
Human Rights Act 1998:
In my view the provisions of the Inquiries Bill [HL] are compatible with the
Convention rights.
Bill 70                                                                                                  53/4
Inquiries Bill [HL]
Bill 70                                                                                                  53/4
Inquiries Bill [HL]
Contents
Constitution of inquiry
1    Power to establish inquiry
2    No determination of liability
3    The inquiry panel
4    Appointment of inquiry panel
5    Setting-up date and terms of reference
6    Minister’s duty to inform Parliament or Assembly
7    Inquiries where ministerial misconduct in issue
8    Further appointments to inquiry panel
9    Suitability of inquiry panel
10    Requirement of impartiality
11    Appointment of judge as panel member
12    Assessors
13    Duration of appointment of members of inquiry panel
14    Power to suspend inquiry
15    End of inquiry
Conversion of inquiries
16    Power to convert other inquiry into inquiry under this Act
17    Inquiries converted under section 16
Inquiry proceedings
18    Evidence and procedure
19    Public access to inquiry proceedings and information
20    Restrictions on public access etc
21    Further provisions about restriction notices and orders
22    Powers of chairman to require production of evidence etc
23    Privileged information etc
24    Risk of damage to the economy
Inquiry reports
25    Submission of reports
26    Publication of reports
27    Laying of reports before Parliament or Assembly
Bill 70                                                                                                  53/4
Inquiries Bill [HL] iv
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
28    United Kingdom inquiries
29    Scottish inquiries
30    Welsh inquiries
31    Northern Ireland inquiries
32    The relevant part of the United Kingdom and the applicable rules
Inquiries for which more than one Minister responsible
33    Joint inquiries
34    Inquiries involving more than one administration
35    Change of responsibility for inquiry
Supplementary
36    Offences
37    Enforcement by High Court or Court of Session
38    Immunity from suit
39    Time limit for applying for judicial review
40    Payment of inquiry expenses by Minister
41    Expenses of witnesses etc
General
42    Rules
43    Notices etc
44    Interpretation
45    Transitory, transitional and saving provisions
46    Suspension of devolved government in Northern Ireland
Amendments etc
47    Inquiries under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000
48    Inquiries etc under Northern Ireland legislation
49    Minor and consequential amendments
50    Repeals and revocations
Final provisions
51    Crown application
52    Commencement
53    Extent
54    Short title
Schedule 1   —    Provisions applicable to inquiries etc under Northern Ireland
legislation
Schedule 2   —    Minor and consequential amendments
Part 1   —
Acts of Parliament
Part 2   —
Acts of the Scottish Parliament
Part 3   —
Northern Ireland legislation
Inquiries Bill [HL] v
Schedule 3   —    Repeals and revocations

© Parliamentary copyright 2005	Revised 2 March 2005