OpenPublic Office (Accountability) Bill

Overview Timeline47 Debates6 Amendments40

Proposed amendments

40 amendments across 9 provisions

New clauses & schedules 9

Amendment #10030800#10030800No decisionNew clause / schedule

Amendment text

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

Only the heading is published via the Bills API — the full text of this new clause/schedule is set out in the marshalled Amendment Paper.

Stage: Report stage
Type: AddClauseOrSchedule

Amendment #10030824#10030824No decisionNew clause / schedule

Amendment text

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

Only the heading is published via the Bills API — the full text of this new clause/schedule is set out in the marshalled Amendment Paper.

Stage: Report stage
Type: AddClauseOrSchedule

Amendment #10030825#10030825No decisionNew clause / schedule

Amendment text

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

Only the heading is published via the Bills API — the full text of this new clause/schedule is set out in the marshalled Amendment Paper.

Stage: Report stage
Type: AddClauseOrSchedule

Amendment #10030832#10030832No decisionNew clause / schedule

Amendment text

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

Only the heading is published via the Bills API — the full text of this new clause/schedule is set out in the marshalled Amendment Paper.

Stage: Report stage
Type: AddClauseOrSchedule

Amendment #10031390#10031390No decisionNew clause / schedule

Amendment text

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

Only the heading is published via the Bills API — the full text of this new clause/schedule is set out in the marshalled Amendment Paper.

Stage: Report stage
Type: AddClauseOrSchedule

Amendment #10031391#10031391No decisionNew clause / schedule

Amendment text

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

Only the heading is published via the Bills API — the full text of this new clause/schedule is set out in the marshalled Amendment Paper.

Stage: Report stage
Type: AddClauseOrSchedule

Amendment #10031706#10031706No decisionNew clause / schedule

Amendment text

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

Only the heading is published via the Bills API — the full text of this new clause/schedule is set out in the marshalled Amendment Paper.

Stage: Report stage
Type: AddClauseOrSchedule

Amendment #10031819#10031819No decisionNew clause / schedule

Amendment text

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

Only the heading is published via the Bills API — the full text of this new clause/schedule is set out in the marshalled Amendment Paper.

Stage: Report stage
Type: AddClauseOrSchedule

Amendment #10031820#10031820No decisionNew clause / schedule

Amendment text

To move the following Clause—
“Public interest

Only the heading is published via the Bills API — the full text of this new clause/schedule is set out in the marshalled Amendment Paper.

Stage: Report stage
Type: AddClauseOrSchedule

Clause 1 1

Amendment #10031640#10031640No decisionAmends text

Amendment text

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

Stage: Report stage
Type: EditBillBody
Clause: 1

Clause 2 7

Amendment #10030329#10030329Not calledAmends text

Amendment text

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;”

Stage: Committee stage
Type: EditBillBody
Clause: 2

Amendment #10030332#10030332WithdrawnAmends text

Amendment text

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.”

Stage: Committee stage
Type: EditBillBody
Clause: 2

Amendment #10030349#10030349Not calledAmends text

Amendment text

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

Stage: Committee stage
Type: EditBillBody
Clause: 2

Amendment #10030360#10030360WithdrawnAmends text

Amendment text

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”

Stage: Committee stage
Type: EditBillBody
Clause: 2

Amendment #10030362#10030362Not calledAmends text

Amendment text

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.”

Stage: Committee stage
Type: EditBillBody
Clause: 2

Amendment #10030827#10030827No decisionAmends text

Amendment text

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;”

Stage: Report stage
Type: EditBillBody
Clause: 2

Amendment #10030835#10030835No decisionAmends text

Amendment text

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.”

Stage: Report stage
Type: EditBillBody
Clause: 2

Clause 4 1

Amendment #10030829#10030829No decisionAmends text

Amendment text

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

Stage: Report stage
Type: EditBillBody
Clause: 4

Clause 5 1

Amendment #10030828#10030828No decisionAmends text

Amendment text

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

The Bills API publishes only the tabling instruction here, not the inserted text itself — the full wording is set out in the marshalled Amendment Paper.

Stage: Report stage
Type: EditBillBody
Clause: 5

Clause 6 6

Amendment #10031743#10031743No decisionRemoves provision

Amendment text

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

Stage: Report stage
Type: DeleteClauseOrSchedule
Clause: 6

Amendment #10031760#10031760No decisionAmends text

Amendment text

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.”

Stage: Report stage
Type: EditBillBody
Clause: 6

Amendment #10031791#10031791No decisionAmends text

Amendment text

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

Stage: Report stage
Type: EditBillBody
Clause: 6

Amendment #10031807#10031807No decisionAmends text

Amendment text

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

The Bills API publishes only the tabling instruction here, not the inserted text itself — the full wording is set out in the marshalled Amendment Paper.

Stage: Report stage
Type: EditBillBody
Clause: 6

Amendment #10031823#10031823No decisionAmends text

Amendment text

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)”

Stage: Report stage
Type: EditBillBody
Clause: 6

Amendment #10031824#10031824No decisionRemoves provision

Amendment text

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

Stage: Report stage
Type: DeleteClauseOrSchedule
Clause: 6

Clause 11 8

Amendment #10030288#10030288No decisionAmends text

Amendment text

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.”

Stage: Committee stage
Type: EditBillBody
Clause: 11

Amendment #10030290#10030290No decisionAmends text

Amendment text

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

Stage: Committee stage
Type: EditBillBody
Clause: 11

Amendment #10030324#10030324No decisionAmends text

Amendment text

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.”

Stage: Committee stage
Type: EditBillBody
Clause: 11

Amendment #10030330#10030330No decisionAmends text

Amendment text

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”

Stage: Committee stage
Type: EditBillBody
Clause: 11

Amendment #10030334#10030334No decisionRemoves provision

Amendment text

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

Stage: Committee stage
Type: DeleteClauseOrSchedule
Clause: 11

Amendment #10030346#10030346No decisionRemoves provision

Amendment text

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

Stage: Committee stage
Type: DeleteClauseOrSchedule
Clause: 11

Amendment #10030357#10030357No decisionAmends text

Amendment text

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.”

Stage: Committee stage
Type: EditBillBody
Clause: 11

Amendment #10030359#10030359No decisionRemoves provision

Amendment text

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

Stage: Committee stage
Type: DeleteClauseOrSchedule
Clause: 11

Schedule 1 5

Amendment #10030036#10030036Not calledAmends text

Amendment text

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

Stage: Committee stage
Type: EditBillBody
Schedule: 1

Amendment #10030280#10030280AgreedAmends text

Amendment text

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

Stage: Committee stage
Type: EditBillBody
Schedule: 1

Amendment #10030285#10030285Negatived on divisionAmends text

Amendment text

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.”

Stage: Committee stage
Type: EditBillBody
Schedule: 1

Amendment #10030336#10030336Not calledAmends text

Amendment text

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.”

Stage: Committee stage
Type: EditBillBody
Schedule: 1

Amendment #10030348#10030348WithdrawnAmends text

Amendment text

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.”

Stage: Committee stage
Type: EditBillBody
Schedule: 1

Schedule 3 2

Amendment #10030350#10030350No decisionAmends text

Amendment text

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

Stage: Committee stage
Type: EditBillBody
Schedule: 3

Amendment #10030356#10030356No decisionAmends text

Amendment text

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

Stage: Committee stage
Type: EditBillBody
Schedule: 3