Public inquiries: Lords committee demands action to ensure lessons are learned

Members of the House of Lords have called for the establishment of a new parliamentary committee to hold the government to account on recommendations made by public inquiries – after their own inquiry found lessons to prevent further tragedies not always being learnt.

The Lords statutory inquiries committee was set up this year to consider whether the Inquiries Act 2005 provides an effective framework for public inquiries.

With some 18 inquiries taking place this year alone, a report published by the committee yesterday said inquiries identify who is accountable for mistakes, establish lessons to be learnt, recommend changes to prevent further disasters and provide catharsis for victims, survivors and their families.

‘Yet too often, inquiries are failing to meet their aims because inquiry recommendations are not subsequently implemented, despite being accepted by the government. This is inexcusable, as it risks the recurrence of a disaster and undermines the whole purpose of holding an inquiry in the first place.’

The report calls for a new joint parliamentary public inquiries committee that would publish inquiry reports and government responses in one place, monitor implementation of accepted inquiry and inquest recommendations, and scrutinise the government’s response.

Inquiries do not always need to be chaired by a judge and a non-judicial chair with professional expertise in the topic under investigation may sometimes be more suitable, the committee added.

Other recommendations include consulting with victims and survivors on an inquiry’s terms of reference where appropriate, getting lengthy inquiries to publish interim reports, and strengthening the Cabinet Office’s inquiries unit, established in 2019, to ensure best practice is shared between inquiries.

Committee chair Lord Norton of Louth said: '"Lessons learned’" is an entirely vacuous phrase if lessons aren’t being learned because inquiry recommendations are ignored or delayed. Furthermore, it is insulting and upsetting for victims, survivors and their families who frequently hope that, from their unimaginable grief, something positive might prevail.

'So, the monitoring and implementation of inquiry recommendations is essential. Additionally, public trust is lost where inquiries are unnecessarily protracted, and costs perceived to be excessive. The findings of this report aim to make inquiries as effective, cost-efficient and trusted as possible.'

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