Consultation for expanding legal aid representation for inquests

The consultation will run until the 19th June 2026 in readiness for the anticipated introduction of the Hillsborough Law (otherwise known as the Public Office (Accountability) Bill in the Autumn session. The  Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Justice Alex Davies- Jones MP as part of the carry over debate in the House of Commons on the 27th April 2026 confirmed the Government remained “absolutely committed to delivering the Bill.”

The Bill will seek to establish a legal duty of candour on public servants and authorities requiring them to act transparently.  The aim is to ensure that public servants and authorities are held accountable with the introduction of new criminal sanctions for misleading the public and ensuring that public officials act with honesty and integrity at all times.  In the words of Alex Davies-Jones MP, “At inquiries, inquests and investigations, public authorities and officials will be put under powerful obligations to help investigations to find the truth.”

In inquests where a public authority has been named as an interested person, the Bill intends that bereaved families will be able to access publicly funded help and advocacy in order to ensure ‘parity of arms’ and fairness in the coronial process.

The likely expectation is that legally aided inquest cases will rise from 200-400 to up to approximately 11,400.

Further information on the consultation can be found here: Legal aid for inquests: changes to fee schemes - GOV.UK