§ 53. Mr. Cartwrightasked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to strengthen the powers of the Commissioner for Local Administration.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinI assume that the hon. Member is referring to the second review which the Commission for Local Administration in England prepared under section 23(12) of the Local Government Act 1974, and which recommended, inter alia, that the commission should be enabled to investigate not only complaints made to it via elected members of local authorities but also complaints made directly to it.
I issued my response to the commission today, and have placed copies in the Libraries of both Houses of Parliament.
I gave very careful consideration to the question of direct access. I believe that it is important to maintain the principle that locally elected members, as part of their responsibility towards their electors, should continue to be involved in considering complaints against the local authority on which they serve and thereby have the opportunity to deal with complaints themselves if this is practicable. I am not willing at this stage to seek any alteration in the provisions requiring complaints normally to be forwarded to the commission by elected members.
I am, however, concerned that a number of complaints which may well justify investigation do not reach the commission under existing procedures. I therefore intend to discuss with the commission and with the representative body established under section 24 of the Local Government Act 1974 whether improved procedures can be devised within the existing framework.