HC Deb 11 June 1992 vol 209 cc236-7W
Mr. Bermingham

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how reports of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration are disseminated within his Department.

Mr. John M. Taylor

Reports prepared by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration are always shown to the permanent secretary and seen by the Department's senior managers. Where necessary, local managers are asked to comment on the matters raised by the Parliamentary Commissioner.

Mr. Bermingham

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department how many investigations have been initiated by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration in connection with the work of his Department for each year since 1986; and how many complaints have been upheld in whole or in part in each of those years.

Mr. John M. Taylor

The jurisdiction of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration was extended on 1 January 1991 by section 110 of the Courts and Legal Services Act 1990 to include administrative duties carried out by staff of courts and tribunals appointed by the Lord Chancellor.

Three cases had been referred to the Parliamentary Commissioner in 1986; one in 1987; seven in 1988; eight in 1989, and three in 1990 of which it was decided 14 fell outside his jurisdiction. The remaining seven did not result in recommendations. In 1991, nine cases were investigated of which five resulted in findings against the Department. During 1992 three cases have been referred to the Parliamentary Commissioner, but none of those investigations has yet been completed.

Mr. Bermingham

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what disciplinary action has been taken by his Department in relation to matters referred to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration in each year since 1986.

Mr. John M. Taylor

No disciplinary action has been found necessary as the result of a case being referred to the Parliamentary Commission for Administration during the period from 1986.

Mr. Bermingham

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department if he will list for each year since 1986 in respect of the reports of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration where financial payment or payments will or should be made by his Department as directed or indicated,(a) aggregate amount for all investigations, (b) the highest amounts for any one investigation, (c) the length of time taken between his Department indicating that a payment will be made or informing that a payment should be made and such payments being made and (d) how many such payments were not made within seven days and what reasons there are for such delays.

Mr. John M. Taylor

No payments were recommended by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration in the years 1986, 1987, 1988, 1990 and 1992. In 1989 one payment of £75 was made and in 1991 payments totalling £1,467.61 were made. The largest of these payments was £1,009.42.

The time taken between acknowledging the Parliamentary Commissioner's recommendation and making payment is kept to a minimum.