Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921
The Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921 was an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom, now repealed, which set out the powers and functions of certain Tribunals of Inquiry along with the procedures for the taking of evidence. The Act did not give blanket powers for a tribunal of inquiry to be set up "ad hoc". For a tribunal to be established under the Act, the matter in question would need to be one of urgent public significance; and would need to be authorised by the Secretary of State. If these prerequisites were  met, such an inquiry would be established with judicial powers—in the same way as the High Court or the Court of Session in Scotland. The Act was passed before Ireland separated from the United Kingdom. It remains in force, as amended, as part of law of public inquiries in the Republic of Ireland History of the Act. On 4 March 1921, the "Tribunals Of Inquiry (Evidence) Bill" was introduced in Parliament and in just under 3 weeks, became law. The Act received Royal Assent on 24 March 1921 and came into force immediately. On 22 February 1921, a controversy  came to a head which involved certain high–ranking officials at the Ministry of Munitions who were supposed to have summoned the heads of ledger departments and accounts investigators to order them to conceal papers from the Exchequer and Audit Departments. The papers, which were alleged to have been destroyed, related to the outcome of certain investigations regarding the entitlement of contractors, and involved sums in the many millions. The disappearance of the materials would serve to be monetarily beneficial to the officials. During a House of Commons debate of 22 February 1921, Captain Loseby claimed that there were sworn  affidavits from those who witnessed the order to destroy being given. In trying to ascertain what had happened to the papers, the formation a new committee was advanced as a possible solution. The Committee would be chaired by a judge. It naturally followed that the question should be posed as to whether it would be necessary to have an Act of Parliament in place in order for the proposed Committee to be able to hear evidence on oath. As a result of the House of Commons debate of 22 February, plans were set in motion for a succinct piece of  legislation that would enable the proposed Committee to take evidence on oath, this engendered the "Tribunals Of Inquiry (Evidence) Bill".