Public Office (Accountability) Bill
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.
Legislative progress
Commons
16 Sep 2025
1st reading
Commons
3 Nov 2025
2nd reading
Commons
3 Nov 2025
Programme motion
Commons
3 Nov 2025
Money resolution
Commons
27 Nov 2025
Committee stage
Commons
Report stage
Commons
27 Apr 2026
Carry-over motion
Bill documents
-
Bill Commons 16 Sep 2025Bill 306 2024-26 (as introduced)
-
Bill Commons 16 Sep 2025Bill 306 2024-26 (as introduced) - large print
-
Explanatory Notes Commons 16 Sep 2025Bill 306 EN 2024-26
-
Explanatory Notes Commons 16 Sep 2025Bill 306 EN 2024-26 - large print
-
Delegated Powers Memorandum Commons 16 Sep 2025Memorandum from the Ministry of Justice and the Cabinet Office
-
Human rights memorandum Commons 16 Sep 2025European Convention on Human Rights Memorandum
-
Impact Assessments Unassigned 16 Sep 2025Equalities Impact Assessment for the Misconduct in Public Office measures
-
Impact Assessments Unassigned 16 Sep 2025Equalities Impact Assessment for the Parity measures
-
Bill Commons 16 Sep 2025Bill 306 2024-26 (as introduced) - xml download
-
Impact Assessments Unassigned 16 Sep 2025Impact Assessment - “Duty of Candour” provisions
-
Impact Assessments Unassigned 16 Sep 2025Impact Assessment for the Misconduct in Public Office measures
-
Impact Assessments Unassigned 16 Sep 2025Impact Assessment for the Parity of Arms measures
-
Impact Assessments Unassigned 16 Sep 2025Equalities Impact Assessment for the Duty of Candour Measures
-
Briefing papers Commons 23 Oct 2025Public Office (Accountability) Bill 2024-26
-
Human rights memorandum Commons 27 Oct 2025Memorandum from the Ministry of Justice to the Joint Committee on Human Rights
-
Press notices Commons 6 Nov 2025Public Office (Accountability) Bill: call for evidence
-
Amendment Paper Commons 17 Nov 2025Notices of Amendments as at 17 November 2025
-
Amendment Paper Commons 24 Nov 2025Notices of Amendments as at 24 November 2025
-
Amendment Paper Commons 25 Nov 2025Notices of Amendments as at 25 November 2025
-
Amendment Paper Commons 27 Nov 2025Public Bill Committee Amendments as at 27 November 2025
-
Written evidence Commons 27 Nov 2025Written evidence submitted by Nick Braley (POAB01)
-
Written evidence Commons 27 Nov 2025Written evidence submitted by Gareth O'Leary (POAB02)
-
Written evidence Commons 27 Nov 2025Written evidence submitted by Dr Minh Alexander (POAB03)
-
Written evidence Commons 27 Nov 2025Written evidence submitted by Community Planning Alliance (POAB04)
-
Written evidence Commons 27 Nov 2025Written evidence submitted by ExecProsec (Stop Lying in Politics Ltd) (POAB05)
-
Written evidence Commons 27 Nov 2025Written evidence submitted by the Centre for People's Justice (POAB06)
-
Written evidence Commons 27 Nov 2025Written evidence submitted by Hillsborough Law Now, INQUEST, and JUSTICE (POAB07)
-
Written evidence Commons 27 Nov 2025Written evidence submitted by Paul Calvert (POAB08)
-
Written evidence Commons 27 Nov 2025Written evidence submitted by the Chinook Justice Campaign (POAB09)
-
Written evidence Commons 27 Nov 2025Written evidence submitted by David Ross (POAB10)
-
Written evidence Commons 27 Nov 2025Written evidence submitted by Anthony Hogan (POAB11)
-
Written evidence Commons 27 Nov 2025Written evidence submitted by Andrew Rice (POAB12)
-
Written evidence Commons 27 Nov 2025Written evidence submitted by the Independent Public Advocate (POAB13)
-
Written evidence Commons 27 Nov 2025Written evidence submitted by Spotlight on Corruption (POAB14)
-
Written evidence Commons 27 Nov 2025Written evidence submitted by Hacked Off (POAB15)
-
Amendment Paper Commons 28 Nov 2025Notices of Amendments as at 28 November 2025
-
Amendment Paper Commons 1 Dec 2025Notices of Amendments as at 1 December 2025
-
Selection of amendments: Commons Commons 2 Dec 2025Chair’s selection and grouping of amendments for debate in Committee - 2 December 2025
-
Amendment Paper Commons 2 Dec 2025Public Bill Committee Amendments as at 2 December 2025
-
Written evidence Commons 2 Dec 2025Written evidence submitted by Former Members of the Hillsborough Family Support Group (POAB16)
-
Written evidence Commons 2 Dec 2025Written evidence submitted by Steve Purse (POAB17)
-
Amendment Paper Commons 3 Dec 2025Notices of Amendments as at 3 December 2025
-
Selection of amendments: Commons Commons 4 Dec 2025Chair’s selection and grouping of amendments for debate in Committee - 4 December 2025
-
Amendment Paper Commons 4 Dec 2025Public Bill Committee Amendments as at 4 December 2025
-
Written evidence Commons 4 Dec 2025Supplementary written evidence submitted by WhistleblowersUK (POAB18)
-
Written evidence Commons 4 Dec 2025Written evidence submitted by Deanna Matthews (POAB19)
-
Written evidence Commons 4 Dec 2025Written evidence submitted by Browne Jacobson LLP (POAB20)
-
Written evidence Commons 4 Dec 2025Written evidence submitted by Steve Foote (POAB21)
-
Bill Commons 4 Dec 2025Bill 341 2024-26 (as amended in Public Bill Committee)
-
Bill Commons 4 Dec 2025Bill 341 2024-26 (as amended in Public Bill Committee) - large print
-
Bill proceedings: Commons Commons 4 Dec 2025All proceedings up to 4 December 2025 at Public Bill Committee Stage
-
Amendment Paper Commons 18 Dec 2025Notices of Amendments as at 18 December 2025
-
Amendment Paper Commons 18 Dec 2025Notices of Amendments as at 18 December 2025 - large print
-
Amendment Paper Commons 19 Dec 2025Notices of Amendments as at 19 December 2025
-
Amendment Paper Commons 19 Dec 2025Notices of Amendments as at 19 December 2025 - large print
-
Amendment Paper Commons 5 Jan 2026Notices of Amendments as at 5 January 2026
-
Amendment Paper Commons 5 Jan 2026Notices of Amendments as at 5 January 2026 - large print
-
Amendment Paper Commons 6 Jan 2026Notices of Amendments as at 6 January 2026
-
Amendment Paper Commons 6 Jan 2026Notices of Amendments as at 6 January 2026 - large print
-
Amendment Paper Commons 7 Jan 2026Notices of Amendments as at 7 January 2026
-
Amendment Paper Commons 7 Jan 2026Notices of Amendments as at 7 January 2026 - large print
-
Amendment Paper Commons 8 Jan 2026Notices of Amendments as at 8 January 2026
-
Amendment Paper Commons 8 Jan 2026Notices of Amendments as at 8 January 2026 - large print
-
Amendment Paper Commons 9 Jan 2026Notices of Amendments as at 9 January 2026
-
Amendment Paper Commons 9 Jan 2026Notices of Amendments as at 9 January 2026 - large print
-
Amendment Paper Commons 12 Jan 2026Notices of Amendments as at 12 January 2026
-
Amendment Paper Commons 12 Jan 2026Notices of Amendments as at 12 January 2026 - large print
-
Amendment Paper Commons 13 Jan 2026Notices of Amendments as at 13 January 2026
-
Amendment Paper Commons 13 Jan 2026Notices of Amendments as at 13 January 2026 - large print
-
Amendment Paper Commons 14 Jan 2026Notices of Amendments as at 14 January 2026
-
Amendment Paper Commons 14 Jan 2026Notices of Amendments as at 14 January 2026 - large print
-
Briefing papers Commons 14 Jan 2026Public Office (Accountability) Bill 2024-26: Progress of the bill
-
Amendment Paper Commons 15 Jan 2026Notices of Amendments as at 15 January 2026
-
Amendment Paper Commons 15 Jan 2026Notices of Amendments as at 15 January 2026 - large print
-
Amendment Paper Commons 16 Jan 2026Notices of Amendments as at 16 January 2026
-
Amendment Paper Commons 16 Jan 2026Notices of Amendments as at 16 January 2026 - large print
-
Amendment Paper Commons 19 Jan 2026Consideration of Bill Amendments as at 19 January 2026
-
Amendment Paper Commons 19 Jan 2026Consideration of Bill Amendments as at 19 January 2026 - large print
-
Amendment Paper Commons 20 Jan 2026Notices of Amendments as at 20 January 2026
-
Amendment Paper Commons 20 Jan 2026Notices of Amendments as at 20 January 2026 - large print
-
Amendment Paper Commons 27 Jan 2026Notices of Amendments as at 27 January 2026
-
Amendment Paper Commons 27 Jan 2026Notices of Amendments as at 27 January 2026 - large print
-
Amendment Paper Commons 29 Jan 2026Notices of Amendments as at 29 January 2026
-
Amendment Paper Commons 29 Jan 2026Notices of Amendments as at 29 January 2026 - large print
-
Amendment Paper Commons 4 Feb 2026Notices of Amendments as at 4 February 2026
-
Amendment Paper Commons 4 Feb 2026Notices of Amendments as at 4 February 2026 - large print
-
Amendment Paper Commons 10 Feb 2026Notices of Amendments as at 10 February 2026
-
Amendment Paper Commons 10 Feb 2026Notices of Amendments as at 10 February 2026 - large print
-
Amendment Paper Commons 12 Feb 2026Notices of Amendments as at 12 February 2026
-
Amendment Paper Commons 12 Feb 2026Notices of Amendments as at 12 February 2026 - large print
-
Legislative Consent Motions-devolved legislatures Commons 27 Mar 2026Legislative Consent Motion approved by Senedd Cymru - 26 March 2026
-
Amendment Paper Commons 14 Apr 2026Notices of Amendments as at 14 April 2026
-
Amendment Paper Commons 14 Apr 2026Notices of Amendments as at 14 April 2026 - large print
-
Amendment Paper Commons 21 Apr 2026Notices of Amendments as at 21 April 2026
-
Amendment Paper Commons 21 Apr 2026Notices of Amendments as at 21 April 2026 - large print
-
Amendment Paper Commons 29 Apr 2026Notices of Amendments as at 29 April 2026
-
Amendment Paper Commons 29 Apr 2026Notices of Amendments as at 29 April 2026 - large print
Chamber debates
-
Hansard 27 Apr 2026
-
Hansard 19 Jan 2026
-
Hansard 19 Jan 2026
-
Hansard 3 Nov 2025
Committee debates
-
Hansard 4 Dec 2025
-
Hansard 2 Dec 2025
-
Hansard 2 Dec 2025
-
Hansard 27 Nov 2025
-
Hansard 27 Nov 2025