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Legislation

19 January 2026

Remaining Stages of the Public Office (Accountability) Bill

Summary

Long title

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.

Latest publications

Bill

Bill 341 2024-26 (as amended in Public Bill Committee)
4 December 2025
Commons
View all 5 versions

Explanatory notes

Bill 306 EN 2024-26
16 September 2025
Commons
View all 2 notes

Amendment Papers

Consideration of Bill Amendments as at 19 January 2026
19 January 2026
Commons

View all publications for this Bill