A Bill to set a requirement on public institutions, public servants and officials and on those carrying out functions on their behalf to act in the public interest and with candour and frankness; to define the public law duty on them to assist courts, official inquiries and investigations; to enable victims to enforce such duties; to create offences for the breach of certain duties; to provide funding for victims and their relatives in certain proceedings before the courts and at official inquiries and investigations; and for connected purposes;
The Public Authority (Accountability) Bill would require public bodies, their staff, and others carrying out public functions to act in the public interest and with openness and candour. It creates a public-law duty to help courts, official inquiries and investigations, and lets victims enforce these duties. It also introduces offences for breaches and provides funding for victims and their relatives in court cases and at inquiries.
The bill is currently at the 2nd Reading in the House of Commons. If it progresses, it would move to Committee Stage, then Report Stage, and on to consideration by the Lords.
Generated 21 February 2026
Order for Second Reading on Friday 12 September 2025, read and discharged.
This is a Private Members' Bill and was introduced to Parliament on 2 July 2025 under the Ten Minute Rule.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.