Public Office (Accountability) Bill

Summary

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.

Sources & documents

• Official source
• Full text
• HL Bill 42 (as brought from the Commons)
• Bill 007 2026-27 (reintroduced at Report Stage) - xml
• Bill 341 2024-26 (as amended in Public Bill Committee) - large print
• Bill 306 2024-26 (as introduced) - xml download
• Bill 007 2026-27 (reintroduced at Report Stage) - html
• Bill 341 2024-26 (as amended in Public Bill Committee)