Inquiries Act 2005

Constitution of inquiry

1Power to establish inquiry

2No determination of liability

3The inquiry panel

4Appointment of inquiry panel

5Setting-up date and terms of reference

6Minister’s duty to inform Parliament or Assembly

7Further appointments to inquiry panel

8Suitability of inquiry panel

9Requirement of impartiality

10Appointment of judge as panel member

12Duration of appointment of members of inquiry panel

13Power to suspend inquiry

14End of inquiry

Conversion of inquiries

15Power to convert other inquiry into inquiry under this Act

16Inquiries converted under section 15

Inquiry proceedings

17Evidence and procedure

18Public access to inquiry proceedings and information

19Restrictions on public access etc

20Further provisions about restriction notices and orders

21Powers of chairman to require production of evidence etc

22Privileged information etc

23Risk of damage to the economy

Inquiry reports

24Submission of reports

25Publication of reports

26Laying of reports before Parliament or Assembly

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

27United Kingdom inquiries

28Scottish inquiries

29Welsh inquiries

30Northern Ireland inquiries

31The relevant part of the United Kingdom and the applicable rules

Inquiries for which more than one Minister responsible

32Joint inquiries

33Inquiries involving more than one administration

34Change of responsibility for inquiry

36Enforcement by High Court or Court of Session

37Immunity from suit

38Time limit for applying for judicial review

39Payment of inquiry expenses by Minister

40Expenses of witnesses etc

43Interpretation

44Transitory, transitional and saving provisions

45Suspension of devolved government in Northern Ireland

46Inquiries under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000

47Inquiries etc under Northern Ireland legislation

48Minor and consequential amendments

49Repeals and revocations

Final provisions

50Crown application

SCHEDULE 1Provisions applicable to inquiries etc under Northern Ireland legislation

SCHEDULE 2Minor and consequential amendments

Part 1Acts of Parliament

1Regulation of Railways Act 1871 (c. 78)

2Ministry of Transport Act 1919 (c. 50)

3Road and Rail Traffic Act 1933 (c. 53)

4Agricultural Marketing Act 1958 (c. 47)

5Mental Health Act 1959 (c. 72)

6Transport Act 1962 (c. 46)

7National Health Service Act 1977 (c. 49)

8Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981 (c. 14)

9Mental Health Act 1983 (c. 20)

10Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (c. 27)

11Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52)

12Children Act 1989 (c. 41)

13Further and Higher Education Act 1992 (c. 13)

14Police Act 1996 (c. 16)

15Education Act 1996 (c. 56)

16Police Act 1997 (c. 50)

17Police (Northern Ireland) Act 1998 (c. 32)

18Protection of Children Act 1999 (c. 14)

19Care Standards Act 2000 (c. 14)

20Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (c. 23)

21(1) Section 18 of that Act (exceptions to section 17)...

22Police (Northern Ireland) Act 2000 (c. 32)

23Adoption and Children Act 2002 (c. 38)

24Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 (c. 21)

Part 2Acts of the Scottish Parliament

25Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 5)

Part 3Northern Ireland legislation

26Local Government Act (Northern Ireland) 1923 (c. 31 (N.I.))

27Petroleum (Consolidation) Act (Northern Ireland) 1929 (c. 13 (N.I.))

28Prison Act (Northern Ireland) 1953 (c. 18 (N.I))

29Health and Personal Social Services (Northern Ireland) Order 1972 (S.I. 1972/1265 (N.I. 14))

30Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978 (S.I. 1978/1039 (N.I. 9))

31Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 (S.I. 1981/154 (N.I. 1))

32Agricultural Marketing (Northern Ireland) Order 1982 (S.I. 1982/1080 (N.I. 12))

33Education and Libraries (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 (S.I. 1986/594 (N.I. 3))

34Adoption (Northern Ireland) Order 1987 (S.I. 1987/2203 (N.I. 22))

35Roads (Northern Ireland) Order 1993 (S.I. 1993/3160 (N.I. 15))

36Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (S.I. 1995/755 (N.I. 2))

37Commissioner for Complaints (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (S.I. 1996/1297 (N.I. 7))

38Road Traffic Regulation (Northern Ireland) Order 1997 (S.I. 1997/276 (N.I. 2))

39Criminal Justice (Children) (Northern Ireland) Order 1998 (S.I. 1998/1504 (N.I. 9))

40Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/417 (N.I. 4))

41Commissioner for Children and Young People (Northern Ireland) Order 2003 (S.I. 2003/439 (N.I. 11))

SCHEDULE 3Repeals and revocations

Inquiries Act 2005

2005 Chapter 12

An Act to make provision about the holding of inquiries.

[7th April 2005]

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—