THE SCOTT INQUIRY, CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTIONS AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN BRITISH GOVERNMENT

The Scott inquiry into the sale of arms related and dual use goods to Iraq in contravention of a government policy of embargo resulted in pe rhaps the most significant insights into the operation of British gove rnment. It revealed a system of government in which departments appear ed to pursue their own objectives under a cloak of secrecy leading to conflict and the collapse of a major trial in very public circumstance s. While the inquiry has not led to any ministerial resignations it ha s increased overall concern about the effectiveness of existing consti tutional conventions of accountability in British government.