Member

In that landscape of potentially conflicting and overlapping legal responsibilities, we suggest that Clause 3(7)(a) might not be enough. The purpose of Amendment 19 is to invite Ministers to look at it again in detail and publish guidance for those public bodies that will be subject to the duty of candour. The amendment would require this within a month of the Bill becoming law, but if the guidance could be presented before that point then that would be all the better. This speaks again to the need for support from departments or some other body to assist public authorities and officials in navigating what might be quite complex duties under the Bill. Without that support, people either will not meet their statutory duties—meaning that the information will not be provided—or might commit a criminal offence. This is a somewhat technical piece of legislation. Many of the people to whom this duty applies will not have any legal experience and there is no reason why they should. Therefore, clear guidance is needed all the more.