Starmer's vision quest

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Psamathe

Veteran
That's pretty much my opinion.
Taken further, they are just an exercise in being seen to be doing something while achieving nothing, and a vast waste of public money.
Maybe a lot of the potential of public inquiries is lost when politicians fail to implement recommendations and organisations go defensive and spout "we have already made significant changes".

Maybe not failings of some inquiries but rather the defensive responses to the inquiry findings.

Maybe also Government is not selective enough about identifying which failings can benefit from an inquiry rather than being just a deflection from a failing ie Government fails and public outrage follows so they start a public inquiry so politicians can "We cannot comment whilst ... is ongoing" and by the time the inquiry reports politicians responsible for identified failings have moved on to highly lucrative non-exec directorships.
 

briantrumpet

Legendary Member
Not all...

There was one into a rail tragedy in the Lake District, probably 30 years ago now, and the authorities (unusually) adopted *all* of its recommendations (the failings had been in prioritising profit over safety, in essence). The result: there were no passenger deaths on the railways for many many years afterwards. (All IIRC.)

Might actually have been Potters Bar. And HSE, not a public enquiry. If so, IDNRC.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potters_Bar_rail_accidents#Event
 

AuroraSaab

Pharaoh
Pretty much every public enquiry ever gets criticized at some stage for what wasn't looked into. No matter how an enquiry is framed, someone will be unhappy.

True, and almost inevitable when you consider the scale of some inquiries. They cost a fortune, they don't cover everything, and victims are often left dissatisfied. However, regardless of how flawed the inquiry process is there are some things that too important to not be investigated, despite the cost and difficulty.
 

CXRAndy

Squire
 

Pblakeney

Veteran
Not all...

There was one into a rail tragedy in the Lake District, probably 30 years ago now, and the authorities (unusually) adopted *all* of its recommendations (the failings had been in prioritising profit over safety, in essence). The result: there were no passenger deaths on the railways for many many years afterwards. (All IIRC.)

30 years ago? Hardly a ringing endorsement.
FWIW, I totally agree with the principle. It is what actually happens that is a wasted opportunity.
 
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