§ Mr. Biggs-Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in what respects the functions and powers of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints differ from those of his counterparts elsewhere in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe Northern Ireland Commissioner for Complaints has no counterpart as such elsewhere in the United Kingdom, though his functions are broadly comparable with those exercised, on the one hand, by the commissioners for local administration in England and Wales and, on the other, by the health service commissioners for England, Scotland and Wales. There are, however, many variations in the legislation governing the investigation of complaints by the different commissioners. The most significant relate to the range of authorities open to investigation in each case; the types of complaint which may be investigated; the powers available to the respective commissioners to bring about a settlement of a complaint; and the time limits within which complaints may be accepted.