§ Mrs. Ewingasked the Prime Minister if he will introduce legislation to provide for the appointment of a Scottish Ombudsman directly accessible to the public, salaried in accordance with the principle of judicial independence and with full powers and facilities to investigate public complaints relating to the operations of central Government Departments, local authorities, public corporations and the nationalised industries in Scotland.
§ The Prime MinisterNo. Legislation on these lines would be inconsistent with principles embodied by Parliament in the Parliamentary Commissioner Act less than two years ago.