§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are aware of any other country whose constitutional system is based upon the Westminster model where (i) the public are denied direct access to the parliamentary ombudsman; and (ii) the findings and decisions of the parliamentary ombudsman are not binding upon the Government; and, if so, whether they will publish details; and [HL5290]
How the annual case load of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration compares with the annual case load of similar ombudsmen elsewhere in Europe and the Commonwealth. [HL5293]
§ The Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Lord Macdonald of Tradeston)I have written to the noble Lord offering him a factual background briefing from the office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration on the workings of different models of overseas ombudsmen.
§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will introduce legislation to give the public direct access to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and to require the Government to give effect to the Parliamentary Commissioner's findings and recommendations. [HL5291]
§ Lord Macdonald of TradestonAs my previous Answers have made clear, the Government intend to replace the existing arrangements for public sector ombudsmen with a unified and flexible ombudsman body to which the public have direct access. The legislation required to implement the new arrangements will be made as soon as parliamentary time allows. The precise nature of the powers which such legislation will afford the new body remains under consideration.
§ Lord Lester of Herne Hillasked Her Majesty's Government:
In how many cases since the creation of the office of Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration in 1965, and for what reasons, his findings of maladministration and his recommendations have been rejected or not followed by the relevant Government departments. [HL5292]
§ Lord Macdonald of TradestonNo central record is maintained of cases where a department has refused to accept the findings or recommendations of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. However, the ombudsman resports on some cases in his annual report and, on occasion, issues special reports.