§ Mr. WatsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the basis for his decision that complaints relating to Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise should not fall within the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.
§ Mr. LangBodies which operate in a predominantly commercial manner are excluded from the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. Both Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise fall into this category.
§ Mr. WatsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to ensure that people in Scotland who might be aggrieved at the manner in which a local enterprise company has dealt with its affairs will have the same avenues of redress available to them as people in England and Wales who have similar grievances in respect of alleged maladministration by training and enterprise councils.
§ Mr. LangLocal enterprise companies will be obliged by the terms of their contracts to operate a complaints procedure, under which an individual with a complaint can be assured that his or her case will be considered by the chief executive of the local enterprise company, and if necessary by the chairman. This obligation is no less than that which will operate in England and Wales.