HL Deb 08 March 2001 vol 623 c39WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they will introduce legislation to create a public right of access to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. [HL798]

The Minister of State, Cabinet Office (Lord Falconer of Thoroton)

Under the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967, members of the public must submit complaints to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration through a Member of Parliament (the "MP filter"). The operation of the filter was examined as part of a review of the Public Sector Ombudsmen in England, which was completed last year. We are currently considering all the responses to a consultation paper on the review, issued in June last year. An announcement on the outcome of the consultation and the next steps will be made before Easter.