HC Deb 30 March 1999 vol 328 cc661-2W
Dr. Tony Wright

To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office which public bodies remain outside the jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. [79248]

Mr. Kilfoyle

The vast majority of executive non-departmental public bodies (NDPBs) and those advisory NDPBs which have significant dealings with members of the public are now within the parliamentary ombudsman's jurisdiction. Those which remain outside his jurisdiction generally have few or no dealings with members of the public or are within the jurisdiction of another ombudsman, for example, the Local Government Ombudsman, or else have external adjudicators.

There are some exceptions to this, where the Government have decided that it would be inappropriate to bring a particular executive NDPB within the parliamentary ombudsman's jurisdiction, because of the nature of the body's work. These are listed:

  • Agricultural Wages Board for England and Wales
  • Alcohol Education and Research Council
  • Audit Commission
  • Criminal Cases Review Commission
  • Crown Agents Holding and Realisation Board
  • Funding Agency for Schools
  • Gaming Board
  • Horserace Totalisator Board
  • Horticulture Research International
  • Independent Commission for Police Complaints
  • Police Authority for Northern Ireland
  • Police Complaints Authority
  • Policyholders Protection Board
  • Student Loans Company.

Ofwat customer service committees are excluded from the parliamentary ombudsman's jurisdiction as complaints from members of the public may be taken to the Director General of Water Services.

have issued final reports and their dates of publication, (c) those which have been terminated and their dates of termination and (d) for those bodies still in existence, expected reporting and termination dates. [79272]

Mr. Kilfoyle

The information is given in the table.

The British-Russia Centre and the British Association for Central and Eastern Europe, which are currently outside the parliamentary ombudsman's jurisdiction are shortly to be brought within his remit.