In this Part, I set out my conclusions and recommendations. One of the areas in which I make recommendations relates to the enforcement regime under the Inquiries Act 2005. By ‘enforcement regime’, I mean the legal powers available to a Chairman, which are aimed at ensuring that all relevant information is before him/her.
In order to explain why change is required in this area, I have set out in some detail my experience of using the powers of enforcement and where, in my view, they fell short. I address this at paragraphs 25.19 to 25.94. Regrettably, it was necessary to go to substantial lengths to ensure engagement with the Inquiry in the case of two individuals. In one case, this was successful in that the person in question was prevented from leaving the country and did appear before the Inquiry and gave evidence. In the second, despite the powers available, it was not possible for me to secure the evidence of a person who had highly relevant information to give.
I begin this Part with my overall conclusions. In the section that follows, I set out my Inquiry’s use of its powers of enforcement. In the final section, I make the recommendations relevant to the areas of my investigation covered by Volume 3. Within the Recommendations, I identify those I intend to monitor, with the designation MR (Monitored Recommendation).