1 Introduction
1. This report examines the tradition of setting
up inquiries into matters of public concern; it considers some
principles of good inquiry practice and explores the case for
greater parliamentary involvement in the process, including possible
changes to the Inquiries Bill currently before Parliament.[1]
The Committee heard oral evidence from 19 witnesses and received
27 written submissions. The table below provides, for easier reference,
a list of those chairs of, and secretaries to, inquiries who provided
contributions. A number of published papers were also sent to
us by their authors for our attention. We also took evidence on
our visit to Washington from 18-23 April 2004. We are very grateful
to all those who provided evidence. The Department for Constitutional
Affairs (DCA) submitted a comprehensive memorandum as part of
its own consultation exercise into effective inquiries. The Committee
and the Department have worked together to ensure that both exercises,
while separate, have complemented one another. The consultation
responses were copied to the Committee, and officials have worked
with Committee staff to ensure that there was no duplication of
effort on factual information. We are particularly grateful to
our specialist adviser Professor Diana Woodhouse whose expertise
and interest in the related fields of public law, ministerial
accountability and inquiries have proved very valuable. We would
also like to thank Chris Sear of the House of Commons Library
for his help in analysing past practice of public inquiries.Table
1: Chairs and Secretaries who contributed to the Inquiry
Inquiry
(commissioning department in brackets)
| Year
Set up
| Chairman | Secretary
|
An inquiry into the application for indefinite leave to remain
(Home Office)
| 2004 | Sir Alan Budd
| |
Review of intelligence on weapons of mass destruction (WMD)
(Foreign and Commonwealth Office)
| 2004 | Lord Butler of Brockwell
| |
An independent inquiry arising from the Soham murders
(Home Office)
| 2004 | Sir Michael Bichard
| |
Investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr David Kelly
(Department for Constitutional Affairs)
| 2003 | Lord Hutton
| Lee Hughes |
Victoria Climbié Inquiry
(Department of Health)
| 2001 | Lord Laming
| |
Foot and Mouth Disease 2001: Lessons to be Learned Inquiry
(Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
| 2001 |
| Alun Evans |
Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry
(Department of Health)
| 1998 | Sir Ian Kennedy
| |
Ashworth Special Hospital Inquiry
(Department of Health)
| 1997 |
| Dr Tim Baxter |
The Allitt Inquiry
(Department of Health)
| 1993 | Sir Cecil Clothier QC
| |
Inquiries into the circumstances of the death of various children and others and the first Ashworth Inquiry
(Various Local Authorities and Department of Health)
| 1985-96 | Sir Louis Blom-Cooper QC
| |
The Ely Hospital (Cardiff) Inquiry
(Department of Health)
| 1967 | Lord Howe of Aberavon
| |
1 Inquiries Bill [Lords], [Bill 7 (2004-05)] Back
|
