Angiolini Inquiry: Contingent Liability for Indemnification

I today lay before the House of Commons a departmental minute giving notice of a contingent liability for the issuing of an indemnity with respect to the work of the Angiolini inquiry.

The proposed indemnity will cover Dame Elish Angiolini as Chair of the Angiolini inquiry, current and former members of the Angiolini inquiry and any individual engaged at any time to aid the inquiry, against any legal costs, personal civil liability, actions, or damages related to the execution of their duties, or for any act done or omission made in good faith in the execution of their duties, including in relation to any inquiry report’s or other published documents.

This indemnity applies only to acts done or omissions made honestly and in good faith during the course of the inquiry, from its establishment on 31 January 2022 until the final reports are published by the Home Secretary and all of the closure work of the inquiry is concluded. The indemnity excludes personal criminal liability, negligence or reckless acts.

The indemnity is subject to the proviso that any liability which is to any extent met by insurers on the beneficiary of this indemnity, or for which reimbursement is made to any extent by such insurers, shall in that event and to that extent no longer be the subject of the indemnity and, if previously met or reimbursed by the Government, shall to that extent be refunded by the beneficiary to the Government.

Her Majesty’s Treasury has approved the contingent liability in principle. The National Audit Office has been consulted on the proposal.

[HCWS51]