Report warns public inquiries fail to deliver change

A House of Lords report found that public inquiries into disasters such as the Grenfell Tower fire take too long and often fail to lead to any change.

Governments routinely launch investigations to “learn lessons” and prevent future tragedies.

But Lord Norton, who chaired the report, said: “Lessons learned is an entirely empty phrase when lessons are not learned because the recommendations of the inquiry are ignored or delayed.

“Furthermore, it is insulting and depressing to victims, survivors and their families who often hope that something positive will emerge from their unimaginable grief.”

The report outlines ways to make investigations more effective. The government said it would consider the recommendations.

In recent years, there have been major investigations into cases such as Grenfell, the contaminated blood scandal and the COVID pandemic.

But earlier this year, bereaved families expressed concerns that the recommendations arising from these inquiries would “simply disappear”.

Some activists said they had “no confidence” the reports would lead to change.

The report of the House of Lords Statutory Inquiries Committee calls for a rethink of the way inquiries are conducted and, crucially, the way their recommendations are implemented.

The commission warned that investigations were seen as “often too long and costly, leading to a loss of public confidence and prolonged trauma”.

“Currently, millions of pounds are spent on public inquiries and yet too little is done to ensure the desired outcomes are achieved.”

A government spokesman said: “We remain absolutely committed to righting the wrongs of the past and ensuring justice is done for victims.

“We thank the commission for its report and will take time to consider its findings and recommendations.”

As evidence was gathered, a House of Lords committee heard that some of the patient deaths at Mid-Staffordshire Hospital could have been avoided if the recommendations of the Bristol Royal Infirmary inquiry had been implemented.

Similarly, the committee heard that recommendations made after the Lakanal House fire could have prevented the fire at Grenfell Tower.

Witnesses told the commission that the Soham murders report led to better child protection laws, while the Dunblane shooting inquiry led to tougher gun laws.

The seven-year Grenfell inquiry made 58 recommendations.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the Government would look at them in detail and respond within six months.

The House of Lords committee said there was a perception the investigations had been launched by ministers to “postpone the issue”.

One of their key proposals is for Parliament to establish a new commission that would “hold the government accountable” for implementing the recommendations.

Lord Norton said such a body could have a “deterrent effect” and “stop a minister from being careless”.

He says investigations could be sped up if they were based on a non-statutory rather than statutory basis.

Statutory inquiries have the power to compel people to give evidence, publicly and under oath.

In 2018, the think tank Institute for Government found that between 1990 and 2017, 69 inquiries were launched, taking on average around two years to report, and at a total cost of at least £630m.

One of the most expensive was the Bloody Sunday investigation, which lasted 12 years and cost £210.6 million.

Lord Norton’s report maintains that inquiries often attempt to “explore too broadly” rather than “focus on the key objective of drawing conclusions”.

The document said ministers should “resist the temptation to give the commission of inquiry responsibility for investigating wider policy areas”.

It also recommends setting deadlines that will allow “the efforts of the chairman of the inquiry committee to be focused.”

The government says that under the law, independent chairmen decide on the course, timing and procedure of investigations.