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;
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The Public Authority (Accountability) Bill would require public bodies and the people who work for them to act in the public interest and with honesty. It would also set out a duty to help courts and official inquiries and allow victims to enforce these duties. The bill would create offences for breaches and provide funding for victims and their relatives in relevant court cases and inquiries.
The bill is currently at the 2nd reading in the House of Commons, following a 1st reading on 2 July 2025. It has yet to progress to Committee/Report stages or to the Lords.
Generated 21 February 2026
2 Jul 2025
The 2024-2026 session of Parliament has come to an end so the House of Commons is now prorogued until the next session begins on 13 May 2026. Prorogation is the formal end to the parliamentary year.
This Bill will therefore make no further progress.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
