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Inquiries Act

The Inquiries Act came into effect on 7 June 2005, achieved Royal Assent on 7 April 2005 and was introduced into the House of Lords on 25th November 2004. The Act is designed to provide a framework under which future inquiries, set up by Ministers into events that have caused or have potential to cause public concern, can operate effectively to deliver valuable and practicable recommendations in reasonable time and at a reasonable cost.

Background and useful information
The Act and supporting documents
Legislative passage
Help with portable document files (PDF)

Background and useful information

These frequently asked questions provide further information about the Act.
The Government response (command paper 6481) was published 10 March 2005. The response includes comments on the 22 recommendations made by the committee.
The House of Commons Public Administration Select Committee's first report of the 2004-5 session: Government by Inquiry was published on 3 February 2005.
The Bill incorporates the results of the "Effective Inquiries" consultation exercise. A summary of responses to the consultation was published on 28 September 2004.
Rules of procedure [PDF 98KB]
The Inquiries Act provides Ministers with the power to make rules on evidence and procedure. This paper discusses the possible content of statutory rules. The suggestions made in the paper are only possibilities of what rules might look like and there will be consultation on proposals this year.
Full Regulatory Impact Assessment for the Inquiries Bill [November 2004] [PDF 193KB]

The Inquiries Act and supporting documents

Inquiries Act
Explanatory Notes
Concordat between the UK Government and the Scottish Executive on the Inquiries Act 2005 [January 2006] [PDF 18kb, 1 page]
Concordat between the UK Government and the Welsh Assembly Government on the Inquiries Act 2005 [PDF 14kb, 1 page]
Memorandum that sets out the understanding between the UK Government and the Welsh Assembly Government of the way in which Ministers will exercise their power to establish, or convert, an inquiry under the Inquiries Act 2005. It was published on 24 November 2006.

Legislative passage

House	Stage	Date
Lords	Introduction and First Reading	25 November 2004
Lords	Second Reading	9 December 2004
Lords	Grand Committee	18 January 2005 19 January 2005
Lords	Report	7 February 2005 8 February 2005
Lords	Third Reading	28 February 2005
Commons	First Reading	1 March 2005
Commons	Second Reading	15 March 2005
Commons	Standing Committee 1^st sitting	22 March 2005
Commons	Standing Committee 2^nd sitting	22 March 2005
Commons	Standing Committee 3^rd sitting	24 March 2005
Commons	Third Reading	6 April 2005
Lords	Consideration of Commons Amendments	7 April 2005
Lords	Royal Assent	7 April 2005
Commons	Royal Assent	7 April 2005