CONTENTS
Terms of Reference
Summary
Chapter 1: Introduction
Constitution of the Committee
Inquiries into matters of public concern
Box 1: The purposes of inquiries
Constitutional importance of inquiries
The Government's approach to our inquiry
Our working methods
Our recommendations
Chapter 2: The background to the Act
Before 1921
The Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921
The Salmon Royal Commission
Box 2: The six Salmon Principles
Inquiries under specific statutory powers
Developments after 2000
The Marchioness report
The Beldam Review, the Public Administration
Select
Committee report and the Inquiries Bill
The Inquiries Act 2005
Remaining statutory provisions
Inquiry into Historical Institutional Abuse
Act
(Northern Ireland) 2013
Chapter 3: When should there be a public inquiry?
Box 3: Examples of inquiries which investigated
failure by
a regulatory or investigatory body
What type of inquiry? Statutory or non-statutory?
Compellability of witnesses and evidence
on oath
Hearings in public
The Committee's view
Inquests as an alternative
Who should decide?
Box 4: Examples of ministerial reasons
not to hold an
inquiry
Giving reasons for not ordering inquiries
Chapter 4: Setting up an inquiry: the formalities
Constitution of the inquiry: appointment
of the chairman
Judges as chairmen
Advantages
Disadvantages
The view of the senior judiciary: consultation
or consent?
Panel members and assessors
Terms of reference
Consultation with interested parties
Chapter 5: Setting up an inquiry: the practicalities
Introduction
Cabinet Office Guidance
Lessons Learned papers
Box 5: Lessons Learned papers
A Central Inquiries Unit
Box 6: A Dedicated Inquiries Unit
Procedure protocols
Cost of inquiries
Comparisons of costs: Hamill and Rodney
Initial planning
Statutory and non-statutory: the cost
Chapter 6: Independence of inquiries
The Joint Committee on Human Rights
Views of judges
Views of interest groups
The Government's views
The Committee's view
Restrictions on public access
Withholding material from publication
Termination of appointment of a member
of the panel
Chapter 7: Inquiry procedure
Inquisitorial or adversarial
Counsel to the inquiry
Appointment of counsel
Legal representation for core participants
and witnesses
Core participant status
Powers and duties of legal representatives
Expenses of legal representation
Assistance to core participants and witnesses
Warning letters
Other amendments to rules
Rules 2 and 18: inquiry records
Rule 9: written statements
Rules 20-34: awards of costs
The Scottish and Northern Irish Rules
Freedom of Information Act 2000
Use of evidence in subsequent proceedings
Chapter 8: Recommendations of inquiries
Judicial and non-judicial chairmen
Serving judges
Other chairmen
Overseeing implementation
Chapter 9: Overview of the Inquiries Act
Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations
Appendix 1: List of Members and Declarations
of Interest
Appendix 2: List of Witnesses
Appendix 3: Call for Evidence
Appendix 4: Table of inquiries established under
the Inquiries
Act 2005 or converted into inquiries under the act
Appendix 5: Table of inquiries since 1990 under
other
legislation and non-statutory inquiries
Appendix 6: Abbreviations, acronyms and websites
Evidence is published online at http://www.parliament.uk/inquiries-act-2005
and available for inspection at the Parliamentary Archives (020 7219
5314)
References in footnotes to the Report are as follows:
Q refers to a question in oral evidence.
Witness names without a question reference refer to written evidence.
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