Q&As

Q&As

The Q&As in this subtopic seek to address common questions faced when dealing with Public Law matters.

The Q&As supplement and link to further reading, but are intentionally short. It is anticipated that a brief Q&A will be most helpful when you need a quick overview of an issue and its likely impact. This might arise, for example, for lawyers needing to provide advice, business development or training at short notice.

The Q&A content is date stamped. This date provided is the original publication date and the Q&A states the law on that date.

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Latest Public Law News

Weekly roundup of HMRC import, export and customs guidance—22 July 2025

Details of updates to HMRC import, export and customs guidance for the period from 15 to 21 July 2025.

Standards of candour in closed hearings, and corporate witness statements (Attorney General v BBC; R (‘Beth’) v IPT)

Public Law analysis: In reviewing the conduct of MI5 in two sets of High Court proceedings, the court considered the serious implications of the provision of false information in the context of closed proceedings. The court provided an overview of the limited circumstances which justify departure from the principle of open justice pursuant to section 6 of the Justice and Security Act 2013 (‘JSA 2013), acknowledging that the appointment of special advocates mitigates rather than extinguishing the inherent unfairness that arises. In this case, the special advocates, the High Court, and the Investigatory Powers Tribunal (‘IPT’) were all misled on a key issue and had made decisions relying upon this misinformation. The court recognised that the safeguards in closed material proceedings are reliant on the high standards of candour of MI5 and expressed the need for a prompt and effective investigation when there is evidence of a departure from this high standard. The importance of compliance with CPR 32 PD, para 18.2, which applies to government departments as well as corporate entities, was also considered (para [173]). Written by Alexandra Scott, barrister at Mountford Chambers.

Cabinet Office announces new Ethics and Integrity Commission

The Cabinet Office has announced the creation of a new Ethics and Integrity Commission (EIC), replacing the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL). Lieutenant General (Retired) Doug Chalmers, the current CSPL Chair, will lead the new Commission. Effectively a ‘re-launch’ of the CSPL, the EIC will have a stronger mandate and an expanded role to promote, oversee, and report on the Nolan Principles: honesty, integrity, objectivity, accountability, selflessness, openness and leadership. The terms of reference are to be confirmed, but the EIC’s remit will include upholding ethical standards across the public sector, reporting annually to the Prime Minister and engaging with public bodies to help them to develop codes of conduct. It will also coordinate ethics bodies, promote public understanding of standards, share best practices and serve as a central resource on public ethics.

Cabinet Office expands Infected Blood Compensation Scheme following inquiry recommendations

The Cabinet Office has announced changes to the Infected Blood Compensation Scheme in response to 16 new recommendations from the Infected Blood Inquiry's additional report. The changes expand compensation eligibility for individuals who experienced adverse effects from treatments such as interferon and provide additional support for chronic Hepatitis C patients who have experienced significant impact on their ability to carry out daily duties under the Special Category Mechanism. Notably, the scheme now allows estates to claim compensation if the affected person died after 21 May 2024, removing a barrier that previously caused claims to expire upon death. Minister for the Cabinet Office and Paymaster General, Nick Thomas-Symonds, emphasised the government's commitment to removing barriers to quicker compensation and delivering improvements based on the new report. He stressed the importance of working together to deliver justice and restore trust in the state for those who have been affected. The project includes plans for a main UK memorial and supporting memorials in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.