Inquiries Act

A new Act has been passed, just before the election and consequently hasn't got much press. The Inquiries Act 2005 gives Ministers the right using restriction notices to control public access. The Act abolishes the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921, removing some of the independence of the Chairman.

Amnesty has urged foreign judges to decline any invitation to sit on UK inquiries and called for the repeal of the act.

Further details

-Full text of the Act
-Guardian article
-Amnesty Press release
-DCA - background material