Public inquiries: guidance for Ministers and officials
Public inquiry guidance sets out considerations for Ministers and officials when deciding whether to establish an inquiry. It explains statutory and non-statutory options, independence, cost, timing, powers, interaction with other investigations, ECHR obligations, and alternative mechanisms.
Footnotes
1 Also known as the Campbell Inquiry. This related to the case of HM Advocate v McKie and the steps that were taken to identify and verify the fingerprints associated with that case
2 Core participants are defined in The Inquiries (Scotland) Rules 2007 at rule 4 as persons who–
(a) played, or may have played, a direct and significant role in relation to the matters to which the inquiry relates;
(b) have a significant interest in an important aspect of the matters to which the inquiry relates; or
(c) may be subject to significant or explicit criticism–
(i) during the proceedings at the inquiry, or
(ii) in the report (or any interim report) to be delivered under section 24 of the Act (submission of reports).
3 See para. 5.11 of the Scottish Ministerial Code Scottish Ministerial Code
4 An exception to this is privileged information which is covered in section 22 of the Inquiries Act 2005.
5 Review of Fatal Accident Inquiry Legislation - Report by the Rt Hon Lord Cullen
Contact
Email: susan.black@gov.scot