Bill · started in the Commons

Public Authority (Accountability) Bill

A Bill to set a requirement on public institutions, public servants and officials and on those carrying out functions on their behalf to act in the public interest and with candour and frankness; to define the public law duty on them to assist courts, official inquiries and investigations; to enable victims to enforce such duties; to create offences for the breach of certain duties; to provide funding for victims and their relatives in certain proceedings before the courts and at official inquiries and investigations; and for connected purposes;

The story so farThe Public Authority (Accountability) Bill was introduced in the House of Commons on 2 July 2025 by Ian Byrne (Labour). It is now at second reading in the House of Commons. Second reading is the first debate on the overall principle of the bill; if the bill clears it, detailed committee scrutiny follows.

Sponsor

• Ian Byrne Labour Primary sponsor

Progress through Parliament

Source: the official bill page. Last updated 5 May 2026.