Legislative Consent: Public Office (Accountability) Bill

The Public Office (Accountability) Bill (the Bill) was introduced in the House of Commons on 16 September 2025.

The long title to the Bill notes that it is “A Bill to Impose a duty on public authorities and public officials to act with candour, transparency and frankness; to make provision for the enforcement of that duty in their dealings with inquiries and investigations; to require public authorities to promote and take steps to maintain ethical conduct within all parts of the authority; to create an offence in relation to public authorities and public officials who mislead the public; to create further offences in relation to the misconduct of persons who hold public office and to abolish the common law offence of misconduct in public office; to make provision enabling persons to participate at inquiries and investigations where the conduct of public authorities may be in issue; and for connected purposes.”

The Bill is subject to the legislative consent process under Standing Order 29. This is when the consent of the Welsh Parliament is sought by the UK Government to legislate on an issue which falls within the competence of the Senedd.

The Legislative Consent Motion for the Bill was agreed in Plenary on 24 March 2026.

Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 3) – March 2026 (RE-LAID)

On 17 March 2026 the Welsh Government withdrew the below Memorandum No. 3, and re-laid a new version (PDF 164KB).

Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 3) – January 2026 (WITHDRAWN)

On 27 January 2026 the Welsh Government laid a Supplementary LCM (PDF 167KB). 

The Business Committee referred the SLCM to the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee with a reporting deadline of 20 March 2026 (PDF 73KB).

The Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee held an evidence session with the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs at its meeting on 26 February 2026. Following the meeting, the Committee wrote to the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs on 6 March 2026. The Deputy First Minister responded on 17 March 2026.

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee laid its report (PDF 247KB) on 12 March 2026.

The Welsh Government provided an updated response to our first report and a response to our second report on 18 March 2026.

Supplementary Legislative Consent Memorandum (Memorandum No. 2) – December 2025 

On 11 December 2025 the Welsh Government laid a Supplementary LCM (PDF 165KB). 

On 16 December 2025, the Business Committee agreed a reporting deadline for the committees to report on all the memoranda relating to the Bill, of 20 March 2026 (PDF 73KB). 

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee laid its report (PDF 247KB) on 12 March 2026.

The Welsh Government provided an updated response to our first report and a response to our second report on 18 March 2026.

Legislative Consent Memorandum – October 2025

The Welsh Government laid a Legislative Consent Memorandum (PDF 230KB) on the Bill before the Senedd on 02 October 2025.

The Business Committee referred the LCM to the Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee and the Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee with a reporting deadline of 19 December 2025 (PDF 38KB).

The Legislation, Justice and Constitution Committee laid its report (PDF 346KB) on 18 December 2025.

The Welsh Government responded (PDF 352KB) to the report on 3 February 2026.

The Welsh Government provided an updated response to our first report and a response to our second report on 18 March 2026.