Overview
- Commons leader Sir Alan Campbell confirmed the Public Office (Accountability) Bill will be debated on Tuesday, bringing it back for Report Stage and Third Reading after months of delay.
- The bill would impose a legally enforceable duty of candour on public officials, make it a criminal offence to mislead inquiries, and expand legal aid so bereaved families get publicly funded representation at inquests.
- Ministers and officials say the impasse with intelligence services is resolved through new amendments that use 'compliance directions' so current and former intelligence employees pass material to their agency head, who then forwards information to investigators under security safeguards.
- Hillsborough campaigners and bereaved families welcomed the removal of carve-outs, and senior figures including Sir Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham praised the move as delivering long-sought accountability for state failings.
- If the Commons approves the changes this week, the bill will move to the House of Lords and its detailed safeguards for intelligence material will determine how the duty works in practice and shape accountability in future public inquiries.