The prominence of public inquiries in the United Kingdom’s political and legal landscape has grown in recent years. Inquiries are increasingly costly, slow and ineffective, eroding public trust. Many of the problems stem from deeper structural issues, often worsened by decisions made when inquiries are established. 

This analysis identifies these underlying drivers and recommends targeted reforms to ensure inquiries are fit for purpose and better able to deliver meaningful outcomes for victims and the public.

Key recommendations

• Ministers need better guidance to support their decision making.
• The government should set out a framework for public inquiries to provide clarity on the purpose of inquiries.
• The Cabinet Office should be more proactive in gathering and analysing evidence on what works.