There are no plans to introduce an Isle of Man version of the Hillsborough Law.
In the UK last week, MPs approved a law that aims to prevent cover-ups linked to state failures.
The law takes its informal name from the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, which claimed 97 lives after a crush during the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
Police leaders were found to have spread false narratives about the disaster, blaming Liverpool fans, and withheld evidence of their own failings. The formal title of the law is the Public Office (Accountability) Bill. The UK Government wants the law, which will ensure legal aid is available to victims of disaster and state-related deaths, to be in place fully by next year.
In Tynwald, Arbory, Castletown and Malew MHK Tim Glover asked what plans were in place to introduce a similar law in the Island.
Justice Department member John Wannenburgh MHK said: “At the present time there are no plans to develop a bill similar to the Public Office (Accountability) Bill currently proceeding through parliament.
“There is a Tynwald declaratory resolution that there should be statutory offence of misconduct in public office, with work, I would guess on this, to be undertaken in the next administration.”
Transparency
He added: “I agree that transparency and accountability in public office is vital but to my knowledge the context of the Island is quite different to that of the UK.”
Queried by Onchan MHK Julie Edge as to the lack of progress so far on misconduct in public office laws, Wannenburgh said the department had a limited legislation team, it had to prioritise its resources but confirmed it was on the list of legislation to be progressed.