"The landmark Public Office (Accountability) Bill will force public bodies to cooperate with investigations into major disasters or potentially face criminal sanctions, as well as provide legal funding to those affected by state-related disasters."
"The government has confirmed a new professional and legal "duty of candour" will be part of the bill, meaning public officials would have to act with honesty and integrity at all times and would face criminal sanctions if they breached it."
"Margaret Aspinall, whose 18-year-old son James died at Hillsborough, said she was hopeful the new law "will mean no-one will ever have to suffer like we did"."
"Ms Aspinall said: "It's been a long journey to get here. I am so grateful to the prime minister for fulfilling his promise to me.""
The Public Office (Accountability) Bill will require public bodies to cooperate with investigations into major disasters, impose criminal sanctions for non-cooperation, and provide funding for those affected by state-related disasters. A professional and legal duty of candour will oblige public officials to act with honesty and integrity at all times, with criminal penalties for breaches. The bill is being introduced to Parliament after a delay following a pledge tied to the 36th anniversary of the Hillsborough tragedy. The legislation aims to end cover-ups and apply lessons from Grenfell, the Post Office Horizon scandal and infected blood cases. Campaigners and Hillsborough families have welcomed the measure.
Read at www.bbc.com
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