Public Duty Costs Allowance
Former Prime Ministers can claim up to £115,000 a year in office and staffing costs to help them fulfil public duties.
How do public inquiries operate in other countries?
Many countries have an equivalent to the UK public inquiry system. New Zealand, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Ireland all manage inquiries in different ways.
How could public inquiries be reformed?
The Inquiries Act 2005 was the last major reform to public inquiries system in the UK. Since then there have been a number of proposals for change.
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Research Briefing
How much do public inquiries cost and how long do they last?
There is wide variation in how much public inquiries cost and how long they last. In 2026 prices, the median statutory inquiry costs £6,600 per day.
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Data dashboards,Research Briefing
Public inquiries established under the Inquiries Act 2005
Use our interactive dashboard to explore the cost and duration of statutory public inquiries since 2005, alongside key facts about each inquiry.
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Research Briefing
Business rates
A brief guide to the system of non-domestic rating, better known as ‘business rates’.
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Research Briefing
What is happening to business rates on pubs?
Some pubs in England saw significantly higher business rates from April 2026. This followed business rates revaluation and the removal of covid-era relief.
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Constituency casework,Research Briefing
How do I challenge my business rates bill in England?
Businesses in England can contact the Valuation Office Agency about their property’s rateable value or contact their billing authority about any reliefs.
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Research Briefing
Public Office (Accountability) Bill 2024-26: Progress of the bill
The "Hillsborough Law" would create a duty of candour for public officials and introduce parity of representation for bereaved families at inquests.
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Research Briefing
What might be announced in the King’s Speech 2026?
The State Opening of Parliament and the 2026 King’s Speech are scheduled to take place on 13 May 2026.
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Research Briefing
The Independent Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
The government has announced that it is establishing a statutory public inquiry into grooming gangs. The inquiry begins work on 13 April 2026.
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Research Briefing
Public inquiries
A public inquiry is an investigation set up by a minister to respond to events of major public concern or to consider controversial public policy issues.
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Research Briefing
Government reviews and investigations
Government can establish different types of review or investigation, including public inquiries, Committees of Privy Counsellors and Royal Commissions.
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Research Briefing
Public Office (Accountability) Bill 2024-26
The "Hillsborough Law" would create a duty of candour for public officials and introduce parity of representation for bereaved families at inquests.
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Research Briefing
15 years of the Backbench Business Committee
The Backbench Business Committee was created in 2010 to schedule business in the House of Commons proposed by backbench MPs.
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