HC Deb 28 February 1977 vol 927 cc21-2
28. Mr. John Hunt

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what steps he will take to implement the recommendation of the Select Committee on the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration that the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner should be widened to include personnel matters affecting civil servants.

Mr. Charles R. Morris

The Government have been considering their reply to the various points made in the report of the Select Committee to which the hon. Member refers. A reply will be published shortly as a White Paper.

Mr. Hunt

Does the Minister recall that he and I indulged in recent correspondence regarding one of my constituents, who feels most dissatisfied with the value of his pension following transfer from private industry to the Civil Service? Is it not wrong that the Civil Service Department acts as judge and jury in such a situation? Is it not time that the Government followed the advice of the Select Committee and allowed complaints by civil servants against the Government to be investigated by the Ombudsman, in the same way as other complaints are dealt with?

Mr. Morris

The procedures suggested by the hon. Gentleman would only increase charges of privilege in respect of civil servants. If we were to extend the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner, it would create a situation in which such an extension would not be equitable, since it would place Crown servants in a specially favourable position compared with other employees.