Public Inquiries - value for money?

• Parliament TV: Inquiries Act 2005
• Select Committee on the Inquiries Act 2005

Witnesses

At 10.40am, on Wednesday 17 July, Committee Room 4, Palace of Westminster

• Peter Riddell CBE
• Dr Karl Mackie CBE

The committee will consider whether the Act is an adequate framework for public inquiries which are fit for purpose, cost-effective and command public confidence.

They will also be looking at the huge expense involved in some public inquiries, and asking what can be done to reduce the costs.  Of inquiries set up before the 2005 Act, the Bloody Sunday inquiry cost £191.5m, and three other Northern Irish inquiries together cost over £100m.

Peter Riddell not only has experience as an inquiry panel member, sitting on the inquiry which looked into improper treatment of detainees, but has also given evidence to the Leveson Inquiry into media ethics.

Dr. Karl Mackie is chief executive of the CEDR which two years ago launched an “Inquiry into Public Inquiries” project that set out to investigate and review the methodology used in previous public inquiries.

Likely Questions

• Do public inquiries play a significant and useful part in the management and government of this country?
• Is there a case for a body to be set up with general oversight of implementation of inquiry recommendations and maybe to have more general oversight of the inquiry process?
• Are the recommendations of inquiries adequately implemented?

Further Information

• Call for evidence: Inquiries Act 2005
• About Parliament: Select Committees
• Visiting Parliament: Watch Committees