Catalogue description Parliamentary Commissioner's Cases

The Parliamentary Commissioner Act 1967 established the Parliamentary Commissioner (Ombudsman) for the purpose of investigating complaints made by members of the public who claim injustice due to maladministration in actions taken by or on behalf of Government departments. In such circumstances they became a matter of departmental concern. A person making a complaint must forward it in writing to a Member of Parliament, stating the nature of the complaint and giving his consent to its being referred to the Parliamentary Commissioner. He must also supply his name and address and the identify of the department against which the complaint is made.

The Parliamentary Commissioner has full powers of enquiry. Investigations are conducted in private and the results are reported to the MPs who referred the complaints. The report may contain remedying arrangements which the Commissioner has made, or he may consider that no justice has been suffered, or that the matter is outside his jurisdiction.