A Bill to provide that public authorities and public servants shall not be subject to any criminal or civil penalty as a result of the exercise of reasonable discretion in the performance of their functions; and for connected purposes.
The Bill aims to ensure that public authorities and public servants would not be subject to any criminal or civil penalty as a result of the exercise of reasonable discretion in the performance of their functions. Its provisions would cover public authorities, public servants and contracts for public services. The term public authority is defined by the Bill and includes the NHS, the police, local and central and devolved Government and non-departmental public bodies. The formal intent of the Bill is to indemnify public servants, central government, local government and other public agencies from legal action if they take decisions in good faith, as a result of the exercise of reasonable discretion, in the public interest.
House of Commons
23 June 2009
May contain errors — check source documents for definitive information.
The Bill would protect public bodies and their staff from criminal or civil penalties if they act in good faith and use reasonable discretion in performing their duties. It would also cover organisations delivering public services under contract and defines a broad range of public authorities, including the NHS, the police, and both central and devolved governments. In short, it indemnifies public decision-makers from legal action when they act in the public interest.
The Bill is currently at the second reading stage in the House of Commons and originated in the Commons.
Generated 21 February 2026
4 Feb 2009
This Bill was on the Order Paper for a Second Reading on several Fridays before being dropped by its sponsor, Tim Boswell.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
