HL Deb 05 April 2004 vol 659 cc217-8WA
Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How the annual number of complaints received by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration compares with the annual number of complaints received by parliamentary ombudsmen in other European and Commonwealth countries, taking into account population sizes in those countries; and [HL2181]

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 17 March (WA 55), whether they are aware of any country which restricts access to a parliamentary ombudsman to members of that Parliament. [HL2183]

Lord Bassam of Brighton

Information on the number of complaints received by the Parliamentary Ombudsman is set out in her annual report. Information on the number of complaints received by parliamentary ombudsmen in other countries is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

However, I have written to the noble Lord offering him a factual background briefing from the Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration on the handling of complaints by equivalent ombudsman schemes in other countries.

I understand that France operates a similar scheme to that operated in this country in terms of access to the ombudsman.

Lord Lester of Herne Hill

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 17 March (WA 55), whether they have identified any objections in principle to the creation of a right of direct access by members of the public to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration for complaints of maladministration by government departments; and, if so, what are the objections; and [HL2182]

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 17 March (WA 55), what is the justification for preventing Members of the House of Lords referring complaints by members of the public to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration; and [HL2184]

Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Bassam of Brighton on 17 March (WA 55), how long ago they considered the case for introducing legislation to create a direct right of access by members of the public to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration. [HL2185]

Lord Bassam of Brighton

Under the terms of the Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967, complaints to the Parliamentary Ombudsman must be made through a Member of the House of Commons. The review of the public sector ombudsmen in England, published in 2000, considered the case for introducing legislation to create a direct right of' access by members of the public to the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration.

As my Answer of 17 March made clear, discussions with the Ombudsman on this issue are continuing.