Public Administration - First Report
Here you can browse the report together with the Proceedings of the Committee. The published report was ordered by the House of Commons to be printed 27 January 2005.
Contents
Terms of Reference
Report
Summary
1 Introduction
2 Background
Definitions
Why is a review needed?
What are inquiries for?
Development of the independent public inquiry
The Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921
Developments since the Salmon Commission
The Overseas experience
3 The Judiciary
4 Inquiry Process and Principles
Value of a panel
Panels and independence
Terms of reference
Public versus private
Fair play
Access to papers and persons
Length of inquiries
Inquiry costs
Inquiry value
Ownership and publication of the report
Learning lessons
Guidance and support
Towards some key principles
Principles of good inquiry practice
5 Accountability and reform
Inquiries and Ministerial Accountability
to Parliament
A New Model for Inquiries
The Government's Inquiries Bill: Strengths
and weaknesses
Abolishing the 1921 Act
The need to amend the Inquiries Bill.
Criteria and taxonomy
Types of inquiries
Politically Sensitive Inquiries
6 Parliament's Role
Where should Parliament have a role?
Select Committees: Redressing the balance
Limitations on Select Committees
i. Government cooperation
ii. Perceptions of partisanship
iii Structure and role
Finding a parliamentary alternative
A Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry
The precedents
Rhodesian Oil Sanctions Special Commission
7 Ensuring a role for Parliament
The failure to call inquiries
Parliament as initiator: using the Liaison
Committee?
Policing the Ministerial Code
Conclusion
Conclusions and Recommendations
Annex 1: Inquiries into matters of public
concern: 1900-2004
Annex 2: Inquiries Bill [HL]—Draft
New Clauses & Amendments
Annex 3: The Salmon Principles
Formal Minutes
Witnesses
List of written evidence
Reports from the Public Administration Select
Committee since 2001
Volume II, Written Evidence, HC 51-II
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