A Bill to Impose a duty on public authorities and public officials to act with candour, transparency and frankness; to make provision for the enforcement of that duty in their dealings with inquiries and investigations; to require public authorities to promote and take steps to maintain ethical conduct within all parts of the authority; to create an offence in relation to public authorities and public officials who mislead the public; to create further offences in relation to the misconduct of persons who hold public office and to abolish the common law offence of misconduct in public office; to make provision enabling persons to participate at inquiries and investigations where the conduct of public authorities may be in issue; and for connected purposes.
Public authorities and their staff would have a duty to act with candour, transparency and frankness, with enforcement in inquiries and investigations. The bill would also require authorities to promote ethical conduct, create offences for misleading the public and for misconduct by public office holders, abolish the common-law offence of misconduct in public office, and allow members of the public to participate in inquiries when an authority’s conduct may be in question.
The bill is at report stage in the House of Commons and will proceed through further readings and the Lords for consideration if it passes this stage.
Generated 21 February 2026
The Public Bill Committee has now completed its work and has reported the Bill with amendments to the House, and is no longer able to receive written evidence.
What happens next?
The Bill is now due to have its report stage and third reading on a date to be announced. Amendments can be made to the Bill at Report Stage. Amendments to be considered are selected by the Speaker.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.