Found: Public Office Accountability Bill The Committee considered this matter.

Found: egislative scrutiny T he Committee considered the note by the Legal Adviser regarding the Public Office (Accountability) Bill

Found: The Public Office (Accountability) Bill seeks to place a “duty of candour and assistance” on public

Found: The Public (Office) Accountability Bill aims to address this and we urge this joint inquiry and government

Found: The Public Office (Accountability) Bill expressly includes schools and FE providers within its duty of

Found: increases in other areas of law, but cited other investments in legal aid, including the Public Office (Accountability) Bill

Found: As I’m sure you are aware, Part 7 of Schedule 1 to the Public Office (Accountability) Bill

Found: First, I am responsible for the overall policy for inquiries response, for the Public Office (Accountability) Bill

Found: undertook to write to the Committee on three issues: 1) The interaction between the Public Office (Accountability) Bill

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have compared the one-off and recurring cost of requiring separate codes of conduct under the terms of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill and the associated systems across all public authorities with the cost of one single national core code of conduct; and if not, whether they intend to do so and publish the figures.

Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

Most public bodies will already be covered by a form of a Code of Ethical Conduct. The Bill provides public authorities the flexibility to tailor a code to best meet the needs of their organisation and sector. The cost impact for the majority of public authorities is not anticipated to be substantial. An impact assessment will be undertaken post Royal Assent alongside wider implementation plans.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what evidence they have that minimum standards of candour, honesty, integrity, accountability, openness, and transparency should differ between public authorities, rather than being set out in a single national minimum standard which individual authorities may supplement.

Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

Under the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, public authorities will be required to adopt and publish Codes of Ethical Conduct. These can be tailored to meet the requirements of their workforces and sectors. The Bill sets out the minimum requirements that public authorities must meet for their Code to be compliant.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many separate codes of conduct they expect clause 10 of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill to produce; and what work will be involved collectively in preparing, approving, maintaining, and administering these codes of conduct.

Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

All core public authorities will be required to adopt and publish a Code of Ethical Conduct. This includes all central government departments, National Health Services bodies, local authorities, police forces and state schools. Approximately six million public sector workers across the public sector are within scope of this requirement. Public authorities will be responsible for promoting and maintaining their Codes of Ethical Conduct. Statutory guidance will be published to support public authorities to comply with the duties in clause 10 of the Bill.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what arrangements they propose to prevent duplication between public authorities, professional regulators, ombudsmen, inspectorates, and law-enforcement bodies in investigating and enforcing substantially the same ethical duties.

Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Government recognises the importance of ensuring that Codes of Ethical Conduct operate effectively alongside existing ethical codes made and published by regulators, ombudsmen, inspectorates and law-enforcement bodies. Statutory guidance will be published to support public authorities to comply with the duties in clause 10 of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the statutory guidance to be issued under clause 10 of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill will include a common core template; which elements of that template public authorities will be permitted to omit or modify; and how they will monitor consistency in its implementation.

Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

Public authorities will be required to adopt and publish Codes of Ethical Conduct. These can be tailored to meet the requirements of their workforces and sectors.

The Bill sets out the minimum requirements that public authorities must meet for their Code to be compliant. Statutory guidance will be published to support them.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to establishing a single statutory minimum code of ethical conduct applicable to all public authorities, which individual authorities could supplement but not dilute, rather than requiring each authority to formulate its own minimum standards.

Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Public Office (Accountability) Bill requires public authorities to have and publish Codes of Ethical Conduct. Each code should explain how those working for the authority can demonstrate candour in the context of their particular organisation, its functions, and the individual’s specific role.

The Bill sets out the minimum requirements that public authorities must meet for their Code to be compliant.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what work the Ethics and Integrity Commission and the Cabinet Office duty of candour team have undertaken on the proposed statutory guidance and common framework for codes of ethical conduct; when that work began; what public authorities and existing codes have been examined; and when the resulting material will be published.

Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

In October 2025, the Ethics and Integrity Commission (EIC) was commissioned to report on how public bodies can develop, distribute and enforce Codes of Conduct so that they effect meaningful cultural change, ensuring that public officials act with honesty, integrity and candour at all times.

When published, the EIC will act as a ‘Centre of Excellence’ for public sector Codes of Conduct and provide guidance and best practice to public bodies. As an independent body, the EIC is responsible for setting the scope and direction of its work.

Statutory guidance will be published to support public authorities to comply with the duties in clause 10 of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to consult Andrew Devine’s family on the content, enforcement, and consistency of the codes of ethical conduct required by the Public Office (Accountability) Bill before publishing statutory guidance or tabling any Government amendments.

Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

I have recently met members of the Devine family with the noble Lord to discuss these proposals and am grateful to them for their time.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government how members of the public will be able to (1) identify the applicable code, (2) make a complaint, (3) obtain independent investigation of a serious or systemic breach, and (4) secure a remedy where an authority’s internal employment or disciplinary procedure is unavailable or inappropriate.

Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Public Office (Accountability) Bill requires public authorities to publish a Code of Ethical Conduct that includes information on how people who do not work for the public authority may make a complaint.

The method of investigation and possible outcomes will depend on the circumstances and the public authority concerned.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government how breaches of codes established under clause 10 of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill will be investigated and enforced where the public official concerned has resigned, retired, or transferred to another authority before the complaint or investigation is concluded.

Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Bill sets out the minimum requirements that public authorities must meet for their Code of Ethical Conduct to be compliant. Public authorities are responsible for the disciplinary consequences for people who work for the authority failing to act in accordance with the standards of conduct expected of them.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the risk that separate codes under clause 10 of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill will create different standards, complaint routes, investigative arrangements, and sanctions for materially similar conduct in different public authorities.

Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

Public authorities will be required to adopt and publish Codes of Ethical Conduct. These can be tailored to meet the requirements of their workforces and sectors.

The Bill sets out the minimum requirements that public authorities must meet for their Code to be compliant. Statutory guidance will be published to support them.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of public authorities that will be required to establish and maintain a code of ethical conduct under clause 10 of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill; and how any such estimate is broken down by (1) type of public authority, and (2) government department responsible for oversight.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

All core public authorities will be required to establish and publish a Code of Ethical Conduct, including all central government departments, National Health Services bodies, local authorities, police forces and state funded schools. Approximately six million public sector workers across the public sector are within scope of the Bill.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many of the public authorities they expect to be subject to clause 10 of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill already have a code of ethical or professional conduct applying to their public officials.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The requirement to adopt a Code of Ethical Conduct is intended to sit alongside, not replace, existing ethical or candour frameworks.

In many cases public authorities will be able to satisfy the requirement by updating or amending existing codes to meet the minimum standards. For example, the Civil Service Code will act as the Code of Ethical Conduct for the Civil Service.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government which existing codes of ethical or professional conduct they obtained and considered when preparing clause 10 of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill; and whether they will place copies of, or links to, those codes in the Library of the House.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The provisions set out in the Bill have been developed on the basis of the Seven Principles of Public Life (the Nolan Principles). Codes must be used to drive ethical behaviour in a public authority and to be embedded in all aspects of their organisation’s work - the delivery of public services.

Public authorities will be required to take steps to make their staff aware of the Code and the consequences of failing to comply with it. Public authorities are required to publish their respective Code of Ethical Conduct.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government why the costs and resource implications of clause 10 of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill were not separately quantified in the Bill’s impact assessment; and whether they will publish a supplementary assessment before the beginning of Committee stage in the House of Lords.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

Most, if not all, public bodies will already be covered by a form of a Code of Ethical Conduct. Therefore, it is not anticipated that the impact in terms of costs will be substantial.

The scale of these costs can only be fully determined after Royal Assent. A further assessment of impact will, therefore, be undertaken at the appropriate stage.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the total initial and recurring cost to public authorities of drafting, consulting upon, publishing, maintaining, reviewing, training staff upon and enforcing the codes required by clause 10 of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)

The Code of Ethical provisions as set out in the Bill will allow public authorities flexibility to implement the Code to suit their organisation and sector. Given that most public bodies will already be covered by a form of code, it is anticipated that costs will not be substantial.

The scale of these costs can only be fully determined after Royal Assent. A further assessment of impact will, therefore, be undertaken at the appropriate stage.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the provisions in the Public Office (Accountability) Bill on the functions of the security services.

Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Government has worked closely with the UK Intelligence Community and with the Intelligence and Security Committee to assess the impact of any measures on the functions of the intelligence and security services.

The Bill includes measures designed to ensure that sensitive information is handled securely and can be protected from inappropriate disclosure. This includes information related to the functions of the intelligence and security services.

As for all public authorities, there will be some limited costs for the intelligence and security services in preparing for the application of the duty and in adapting existing practice to meet its requirements. The Bill’s impact assessment sets out that the extent of ‘new’ costs in the support of these investigative processes is likely to be low.

The Government will continue to review the impact assessment of the Bill as the Bill is amended.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential impact of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill on the functions of the intelligence and security services.

Answered by Lord Lemos - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Ministry of Justice)

The Government has worked closely with the UK Intelligence Community and with the Intelligence and Security Committee to assess the impact of any measures on the functions of the intelligence and security services.

The Bill includes measures designed to ensure that sensitive information is handled securely and can be protected from inappropriate disclosure. This includes information related to the functions of the intelligence and security services.

As for all public authorities, there will be some limited costs for the intelligence and security services in preparing for the application of the duty and in adapting existing practice to meet its requirements. The Bill’s impact assessment sets out that the extent of ‘new’ costs in the support of these investigative processes is likely to be low.

The Government will continue to review the impact assessment of the Bill as the Bill is amended.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to amend the Public Office (Accountability) Bill to require local authorities to correct inaccurate statements.

Answered by Baroness Levitt

The Public Office (Accountability) Bill establishes a new duty of candour and assistance at Inquiries, inquests and other investigations, backed by criminal sanctions. Local authorities will be under new obligations to help investigations to find the truth by providing information and evidence with candour proactively and without favouring their own position.

The Bill already requires public authorities and officials to correct any errors or omissions in information given to an Inquiry or investigation. In the case of a public authority, they must provide a position statement and further information or clarification and must comply with other directions, as soon as reasonably practicable.

The Bill also requires local authorities to establish a professional duty of candour for all staff, to be set within a wider code of ethics. These obligations will be underpinned by a new duty requiring public bodies to promote the ethical conduct of those that work for them.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will publish the (a) names and (b) roles of all senior clinicians who declined to take part in the Ockenden Review of Nottingham Maternity and Neonatal Services.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill

The Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust Maternity and Neonatal Review led by Donna Ockenden is an independent review. Therefore, the Department does not hold information about those individuals who declined to participate.

The Public Office (Accountability) Bill, or Hillsborough Bill, that is currently in Parliament will establish a new duty of candour and assistance at inquiries, inquests, and other investigations. Once the bill achieves Royal Assent, we will extend the duty of candour to the reviews commissioned this year into maternity and neonatal care at Leeds and Sussex.

This will give the reviews’ chairs formal powers to help them find the truth from the organisations and staff involved, including compelling everyone they invite to provide evidence, whether or not they still work in the National Health Service.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether Report Stage and other future stages of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill will take place before the Summer Recess.

Answered by Catherine Atkinson

The scheduling of Business is a matter for the Business Managers and announced two weeks in advance. Scheduling has not concluded ahead of the Summer Recess, and will be announced in due course.

Any scheduling of Commons Remaining Stages of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill will form part of any future Business Statement.

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will provide the date of his last formal communication with the Hillsborough Law Now and Pete Weatherby KC campaign regarding the Public Office (Accountability) Bill.

Answered by Catherine Atkinson

The Government engages regularly with Hillsborough Law Now at both an official and political level. There has been a recent change in Ministers with responsibility for this portfolio. As part of my introductory meetings, I recently met with representatives from Hillsborough Law Now, as well as others including victims, survivors, and families who support the Public Office (Accountability) Bill.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether disclosures to the Southport Inquiry by (1) the Department of Health and Social Care, (2) NHS England, and (3) Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust, concerning "inappropriate accesses" to victim records satisfied the current text of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard (HM Household) (Deputy Chief Whip, House of Lords)

The Public Office (Accountability) Bill is currently undergoing parliamentary scrutiny and has not yet been enacted into law. It is not the practice of the Government to comment on the potential application of legislation to specific current scenarios when it is currently before Parliament and has not yet been enacted. The Bill does not provide for the duty of candour to apply retrospectively. The Government remains committed to supporting the independent Southport Inquiry.

Found: Public Office (Accountability) Bill: HL Bill 42 of 2026–27

Professionalise the role of MPs by ending self-regulation. We demand an IPSA-style independent framework to enforce a mandatory 5-year competence baseline for all election candidates, a strict ban on conflicting paid second jobs, and criminal liability for deliberate public deception.

Found: Criminal Liability:End the MP exemption in the Public Office (Accountability) Bill.

Found: Mayor of Liverpool) and Andy Burnham (Mayor of Manchester) Discuss amendments to the Public Office Accountability Bill

Found: Manchester)

Found: In September 2025, we introduced the Public Office (Accountability) Bill (known as the Hillsborough

Found: In September 2025, we introduced the Public Office (Accountability) Bill (known as the Hillsborough

Found: Report of the Chief Coroner to the Lord Chancellor 36 Public Office (Accountability) Bill (Hillsborough

Found: Public Office (Accountability) Bill (Hillsborough Law) 6.46 The Public Office (Accountability) Bill,

Found: Public Office (Accountability) Bill (Hillsborough Law) 6.46 The Public Office (Accountability) Bill,

Found: Now

Found: with Anacta Kate Dearden 24/03/2026 Hillsborough Law Now To discuss concerns about the Public Office (Accountability) Bill

Found: Broudie Jackson Canter, University of Liverpool, INQUEST To discuss amendments to the Public Office (Accountability) Bill

Found: INQUEST

Found: Broudie Jackson Canter, University of Liverpool, INQUEST To discuss amendments to the Public Office (Accountability) Bill

Found: INQUEST

Found: Mayor of Liverpool

Found: Lammy 13/01/2026 Mayor of Greater Manchester and Mayor of Liverpool To discuss the Public Office (Accountability) Bill

Found: Greater Manchester

Found: 09-02 Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, Mayor of Greater Manchester To discuss the Public Office (Accountability) Bill

Found: a successor to the Committee on Standards in Public Life 12 and the drafting of a Public Office (Accountability) Bill

Found: There may be read across from the Public Office Accountability Bill.

Found: to provide evidence in the upcoming maternity reviews in Leeds and Sussex, once the Public Office (Accountability) Bill

Found: The Public Office (Accountability) Bill introduces new duties of candour for public officials and public

Found: This supports the Public Office (Accountability) Bill.

Found: The Government has introduced the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, known as the Hillsborough Law,

Found: to provide evidence in the upcoming maternity reviews in Leeds and Sussex, once the Public Office (Accountability) Bill

Found: Following the first round of market engagement around the Public Office (Accountability) Bill in November

Found: Background The Government has introduced the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, known as the Hillsborough

Found: Background The Government has introduced the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, known as the Hillsborough

Found: Information Systems) Bill • Northern Ireland Troubles Bill • Pension Schemes Bill • Public Office (Accountability) Bill

Found: Executive Officer In No vember 2025, the Ombudsman spoke publicly in support of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill

Found: focusing on the strategic management of litigation (Litigation Directorate) • the Public Office (Accountability) Bill

Found: .............................................................................. 79 Public Office (Accountability) Bill

Found: MP to Kieran Mullan MP regarding questions raised during the Committee stage of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill

Found: MP to Kieran Mullan MP regarding questions raised during the Committee stage of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill

Found: There may be read across from the Public Office Accountability Bill.

Found: Public Office (Accountability) Bill (UK Parliament legislation) - delegated powers exercisable within

Found: Response on the Public Office (Accountability) Bill Legislative Consent Memorandum Letter from Alex Davies-Jones

Found: Response on the Public Office (Accountability) Bill Legislative Consent Memorandum Letter from the Deputy

Found: Public Office (Accountability) Bill Legislative Consent Memorandum Letter from the Convener to the Deputy

Found: Public Office (Accountability) Bill Legislative Consent Memorandum UK Government Letter from the Convener

Found: Bill, the Cyber Security and Resilience (Network and Information Systems) Bill, the Public Office (Accountability) Bill