Final Report > Chapter 2: The Conduct of the Inquiry > Features of a Public Inquiry > Suggested criteria for future decision-making about Public Inquiries

Suggested criteria for future decision-making about Public Inquiries

9 In formulating guidance, we suggest that the following criteria should be regarded as central to any decision whether to establish a Public Inquiry:

• The issue to be examined must not only be of significant public importance in its own right, but must also be such as to raise matters of wider public concern.
• Public confidence in government, local or national, in the area under scrutiny, if it is to be restored, cannot readily be restored without an independent examination of the issue in public.
• The issue cannot properly be dealt with in another way that is less expensive, less elaborate and more speedy. Public Inquiries are costly to organise and run and, clearly, public money spent on an Inquiry is money that cannot be spent on meeting those needs of the public which are highlighted by the fact that an Inquiry is called for: in the case of Bristol, healthcare and particularly PCS services. There must, in other words, be some added value to the public, for example in the wider lessons which can be learned, over and above the mere investigation of some particular event. The cost of an Inquiry, to a very large degree, depends of course on its scope. The terms of reference should, therefore, be drawn up with this, as well as other matters, in mind. Cost can also be reduced by the considered use of modern information technology which can greatly speed up the process.