Contributions
1,452 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDPublic Office (Accountability) Bill (Fifth sitting)Yes, they are indeed. Schedule 3 works alongside clauses 5 and 11 to make some additional provisions about the offence of failing to comply with the duty of candour and assistance…04 Dec 2025HANSARDPublic Office (Accountability) Bill (Fifth sitting)I will speak to each of the clauses in turn. Clause 12 will introduce the first of two new statutory offences to replace the common law offence of misconduct in public office. In…04 Dec 2025HANSARDPublic Office (Accountability) Bill (Fifth sitting)I am happy to clarify that for the shadow Minister.04 Dec 2025HANSARDPublic Office (Accountability) Bill (Fifth sitting)The hon. Lady is bang on the money, literally. I cannot tell her how frustrating it has been as a Minister trying to figure out a way forward on this—trying to figure out the cost…04 Dec 2025HANSARDPublic Office (Accountability) Bill (Fifth sitting)I welcome that point. We have put new powers in the Bill for the coroner to challenge public authorities if they are acting inappropriately. What they bring forward has to be…04 Dec 2025HANSARDSexual Offence Prosecutions: Use of EvidenceToday, I am pleased to announce that this Government will be bringing forward legislation to prevent the misuse of evidence in sexual offence prosecutions. These changes follow a…03 Dec 2025HANSARDPublic Office (Accountability) Bill (Fourth sitting)I totally agree that there should be responsibility and accountability at the top of any organisation. We are not doubting that; that is the intention of the Bill. Does the hon.…02 Dec 2025HANSARDPublic Office (Accountability) Bill (Fourth sitting)I am very grateful to my hon. Friend for tabling these amendments. As we all heard last Thursday, true cultural change is a key part of implementing the Hillsborough law, and the…02 Dec 2025HANSARDPublic Office (Accountability) Bill (Third sitting)I thank hon. Members for their contributions. The amendment would apply the duty of candour to subcontractors as well as contractors of a public authority, as has been outlined.…02 Dec 2025HANSARDPublic Office (Accountability) Bill (Fourth sitting)I welcome the withdrawal of the amendments. We had a discussion earlier about why we have not listed organisations in the Bill. We did not want it to be an exhaustive list and to…02 Dec 2025HANSARDPublic Office (Accountability) Bill (Fourth sitting)I thank the hon. Member for his amendment. I will respond to amendment 21 and the other amendments in turn, before moving to the question that clause 6 stand part of the Bill. As…02 Dec 2025HANSARDPublic Office (Accountability) Bill (Fourth sitting)I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising an important issue. Amendment 43 would, as he states, make authorities set expectations for staff on how to retain and disclose their…02 Dec 2025HANSARDPublic Office (Accountability) Bill (Fourth sitting)The clause provides that the duty of candour and assistance will apply to inquiries and investigations that are already ongoing at the time of commencement, as well as those that…02 Dec 2025HANSARDPublic Office (Accountability) Bill (Fourth sitting)Again, I totally agree with the policy intention. If the Bill had become an Act when the covid inquiry was under way, might that inquiry have carried things out differently, or…02 Dec 2025HANSARDPublic Office (Accountability) Bill (Fourth sitting)I recognise that concern, which I share, and we are looking at that in terms of the passage of the Bill. As I have stated, the duty would be on the public authority, official or…02 Dec 2025HANSARDPublic Office (Accountability) Bill (Fourth sitting)Clause 5 sets out the offence of failing to comply with the duty of candour and assistance, as set out in clauses 2 to 4 of the Bill, so that the duty has bite. The offence is…02 Dec 2025HANSARDPublic Office (Accountability) Bill (Third sitting)It is a pleasure to serve with you in the Chair, Sir Roger, on this historic and momentous Bill Committee. With your permission, I will say a few words about just how momentous…02 Dec 2025HANSARDPublic Office (Accountability) Bill (Fourth sitting)I thank the hon. Gentleman for tabling his amendment. The Government believe it is imperative to have policies and processes in place to enable officials and public servants to…02 Dec 2025HANSARDPublic Office (Accountability) Bill (Third sitting)I thank hon. Members for raising those important points. In this Bill, we have aimed to ensure candour while protecting national security. As it stands, inquiries and…02 Dec 2025HANSARDPublic Office (Accountability) Bill (Fourth sitting)Yes, it is annual.02 Dec 2025