Public Office (Accountability) Bill

Schedule 1, page 29, line 9, after “an inquiry” insert “, independent panel or review established by a Minister”

Schedule 1, page 27, line 29, after “applies” insert “by virtue of this paragraph”

Schedule 1, page 26, line 30, at end insert— “(1A) Inquiries under subsection (1) include those designated by the Secretary of State as local inquiries into grooming gangs.”

Clause 11, page 10, line 35, at end insert— “(10) A prosecution for an offence under this section shall not be instituted except by or with the consent of the Director for Public Prosecutions.”

Clause 11, page 10, line 4, at end insert “by— (i) a recognised news publisher, within the meaning of Part 3 of the Online Safety Act 2023 (see section 56 of that Act), or

Clause 11, page 10, line 33, at end insert— ““journalism” means articles for media outlets and news sites. It does not extend to press statements,commentary and social media posts.”

Clause 2, page 2, line 35, at end insert— “(ca) where the authority or official has relevant records, including digital messages and communication, retain and disclose those records;”

Clause 11, page 9, line 24, at end insert— “(1A) Where the act or statement is made by or in the name of the public authority, responsibility for it lies on the Chief Officer or Chief Executive for the purposes of this section”

Clause 2, page 2, line 39, at end insert— “(4A) Where a public authority or public official is under an obligation to respond to or assist an inquiry or investigation under subsection (4) they should do so within 30 working days.”

Clause 11, page 9, line 33, leave out paragraph (b)

Schedule 1, page 28, line 38, leave out from “direction” to the end of the sub-paragraph and insert “should be given to a public official working for an intelligence service or the head of such a service pursuant to section 2(4) and section 2(5) of the Public Office (Accountability) Act 2025 as applicable to any other public authority, but may not be given to any other public official if it would require the official to provide information relating to security or intelligence, within the meaning of section 1(9) of the Official Secrets Act 1989, and any such public official is not required to provide any such information in response to a direction given in breach of this sub-paragraph.”

Clause 11, page 10, leave out lines 28 and 29

Schedule 1, page 25, line 23, leave out from “direction” to the end of the sub-paragraph and insert “should be given to a public official working for an intelligence service or the head of such a service pursuant to section 2(4) and section 2(5) of the Public Office (Accountability) Act 2025 as applicable to any other public authority, but may not be given to any other public official if it would require the official to provide information relating to security or intelligence, within the meaning of section 1(9) of the Official Secrets Act 1989, and any such public official is not required to provide any such information in response to a direction given in breach of this sub-paragraph.”

Clause 2, page 3, line 6, after “expeditiously” insert “and within 30 working days”

Schedule 3, page 44, line 31, after “section 5” insert “or section 11”

Schedule 3, page 44, line 27, after “national,” insert “or”

Clause 11, page 9, line 24, at end insert— “(1A) Where an offence under this section is committed by a public authority, the chief officer or chief executive (as well as the public authority) is guilty of the offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.”

Clause 11, page 10, line 4, leave out paragraph (b)

Clause 2, page 2, line 23, at end insert— “(ba) their failure to act, omission, or approval or tacit approval of an action are or may be relevant to the inquiry or investigation, or”

Clause 2, page 2, line 39, at end insert— “(f) ensure all relevant public officials can safely disclose information to an inquiry, investigation or inquest.”

To move the following Clause— “Post-legislative assessment of the legal duty of candour for public authorities and public officials

To move the following Clause— “Conduct of public authorities and access to legal aid for seriously injured survivors who are participating in inquests or inquiries

To move the following Clause— “Offence of wilfully destroying information or records relevant to an inquiry or investigation

Clause 2, page 2, line 35, at end insert— “(ca) where the authority or official has relevant records, including digital messages and communication, retain and disclose those records;”

Clause 5, page 5, line 21, at end insert— “(1A) Where an offence under this section is committed by—

Clause 4, page 4, line 19, after “authority” insert “or any sub-contractor in any chain of provision to a service provider”

To move the following Clause— “Monitoring compliance with duties under the Act

Clause 2, page 2, line 39, at end insert— “(f) ensure all relevant public officials can safely disclose information to an inquiry, investigation or inquest.”

To move the following Clause— “Monitoring the standards of ethical conduct of officials in response to the recommendations from inquests and inquiries

To move the following Clause— “Review of the merits of establishing a national oversight mechanism for ensuring candour and transparency of public authorities in respect of inquests and inquiries

Clause 1, page 2, line 1, after “public authorities” insert “, Members of both Houses of Parliament”

To move the following Clause— “Abolition of common law offence: Northern Ireland

Clause 6, page 5, line 40, leave out subsection (2)(a)

Clause 6, page 5, line 38, at end insert— “(b) to a person who works for an intelligence service as it applies to other public officials.”

Clause 6, page 5, line 37, leave out from “applies” to the end of line 38 and insert “, subject as follows— (a) to an intelligence service as it applies to other public authorities, and

Clause 6, page 5, line 37, after “applies” insert “(subject as follows)—

To move the following Clause— “Information contained in public records

To move the following Clause— “Public interest

Clause 6, page 5, line 40, after “service” insert “(other than the head of an intelligence service when discharging that obligation on behalf of the service)”

Clause 6, page 5, line 39, leave out “But”