The Inquiries Bill is designed to provide a single, uniform set of rules and procedure for the establishment and conduct of statutory inquiries set up by a minister in response to a matter of public concern. The Bill will replace the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921 and various provisions regarding statutory inquiries contained in other Acts of Parliament (see clauses 48 and 49 of the Bill and schedules 2 and 3). It will ensure that ad hoc inquiries, which are currently set up without any statutory backing, are put on a proper footing and given proper powers to have evidence on oath. This is important in circumstances where there has been increasing use by the executive of ad hoc inquiries.
Clauses 1 to 14 of the Bill (references are to clause numbers to the Bill as amended on report on 8 February, 2005 – it is inevitable that the clause numbers will change before the Bill is enacted) concern the steps to be taken by the relevant minister in setting up the inquiry, with particular regard to the constitution of the inquiry panel, the time period over which the inquiry is to run, terms of reference and duties of the minister to consult the inquiry chairman. Clauses 15 and 16 provide for the conversion of inquiries, which are established otherwise than under the Inquiries Bill, into inquiries to which the new scheme applies. Clauses 17 to 23 deal with the conduct of proceedings, in particular in relation to evidence, the powers of the chairman and public access to the proceedings. Clauses 24 to 26 make provision for reports of the inquiry and their publication. Clauses 27 to 31 concern Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish inquiries. Clauses 32 to 34 deal with joint inquiries and the remainder of the Bill consists of supplementary provisions creating offences and dealing with matters such as remuneration and time limits for applying for judicial review.
